Implication of climate change and variability on stream flow in Iringa region, Tanzania

• Published in: Journal of water and climate change 2017-06, Vol.8 (2), p.336-347
• Main Authors: Kassian, Lucy Msigwa, Tenywa, Moses, Liwenga, Emma T., Dyer, Kate Wellard, Bamutaze, Yazidhi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adaptation; Agricultural management; Agricultural production; Agriculture; Annual rainfall; Climate; Climate change; Climate variability; Climatic analysis; Climatic data; Data processing; Environmental management; Farmers; Farming; Farming systems; Farms; Hydrologic data; Inventories; Irrigated farming; Irrigation; Irrigation systems; Literature reviews; Rain; Rainfall; River flow; Rivers; Statistical analysis; Stream discharge; Stream flow; Trend analysis; Variability; Water management; Water shortages
• ISSN: 2040-2244; 2408-9354
• DOI: 10.2166/wcc.2016.238

This paper investigates the implication of climate change and variability on the river flow within the traditional irrigation farming system, vinyungu, in Iringa region, Tanzania. The study aimed at establishing areas that are most impacted by climate change in terms of river flow and various adaptation strategies. It is based on both primary data collected by questionnaires distributed randomly among 189 farmers and key informant checklists conducted with villages’ leaders and Agriculture Extension Officers. Two focused group discussions were carried out for each village as well as the researcher's own observations, and secondary data includes: literature review, rainfall and river flow data. The long-term annual trends of rainfall and river flow were analyzed via Mann–Kendall's statistical test and linear trend analysis. Climate data on rainfall trend showed a significant decreasing pattern during the last 17 years. Also, river flow data showed a slight decline within the same period. Decrement in river flow, combined with rainfall fluctuation, forced farmers to employ various adaptation strategies. Following the severity of the problem the paper recommends that more research be conducted on proper water management for sustainable river flow for both agriculture production and environmental management.