Climate variability and climate information use for water resources conservation decisions: a case of Kilombero river catchment, Tanzania
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Date
2018
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
This study assessed climate variability and the use of weather and climate information for
water resources conservation decisions in the Kilombero River catchment. In addition, it
assessed the extent of climate change adaptation strategies in the National Water Policy of
2002. Data were collected from 120 household respondents, three focus group and seven
key informants in the three study villages. Historical rainfall and temperature data were
also obtained from the Tanzania Meteorological Agency to discern climate variability in
the area. The rainfall and temperature data were analysed for trends using Mann-Kendall
test. Quantitative data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences while
qualitative information was analysed using content analysis. Tobit regression model was
used to established factors which influence use of weather and climate information.
Results show inter-annual and seasonal rainfalls do not show consistence increasing or
decreasing trends in Mahenge, Kilombero and Ifakara stations for the period 1986 - 2016.
However, annual and intermediate (January and February) rainfalls in Mahenge showed
decreasing trends significant at 0.05 a level of significance. Temperatures were increasing
at Mahenge station for all seasons, but significant trends were observed in annual
minimum and minimum temperatures during short rains (October, November and
December) at 0.05 and 0.01 a levels of significance respectively. Weather and climate
information are locally available in the area with medium use. Extension visits (13=0.079;
p<0.01), scientific types (13=0.182; p<0.05), traditional methods (13=0.114; p<0.05) and
household income (13=0.072; p<0.05) were the only factors which had significant and
positive correlations with decisions on water resources conservation. It is concluded that
climate is highly variable and there is medium use of weather and climate information.
The study recommends improvements of communities’ adaptive capacity emphasize
factors which had significant positive correlations with decisions on water resources
conservation.
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Climate variability, Water resources, Climate information