Stakeholders’ role in improving smallholder farmers’ resilience to climate change effects in central Tanzania

Abstract

This article investigates the role of stakeholders and challenges encountered in combating adverse effects of climate change in central Tanzania. A total of 366 household heads and 36 key informants were involved in this study. Both quantitative and qualitative data were gathered through household questionnaire, Focus Group Discussions, in-depth interviews and documentary reviews. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative data and content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. The study indicates that, the government, private sector and non-governmental organizations have supported smallholder farmers in adapting to climate change effects through education provision and material support. The research findings further indicate that through implementing climate change adaptive measures, various obstacles particularly inadequate capital, high price of agricultural inputs, limited financial support, inadequate markets, inadequate weather information and inadequate extension services have affected effective adaptive strategies. It is concluded that climate change is evident in the study area and various stakeholders have responded in different capacities. The study recommends on the need to strengthen the support in implementing viable adaptation strategies in the study area and other areas of this nature so as to increase smallholder farmer’s resilience to withstand the climate change effects.