The Implications Of Climate Change Adaptation Measures On Control Of Grapevine’s Pests And Diseases In Dodoma, Tanzania

ABSTRACT

This study aimed at assessing the implications of climate change adaptation measures towards the control of pests and diseases in grapevines farming. The study was conducted in Dodoma in the villages of Mpunguzi, Hombolo, Veyula and Zuzu. These villages were selected due to the fact that they grow grapevines and are likely affected by climate change with implications on the occurrence of pests and diseases. The specific objectives were; to establish the trend of climate parameters in the study area for the past 30 years (1988 – 2018), to assess the perception of farmers on the adaptation measures in controlling pests and diseases and to examine the implications of controlling pests and diseases to the livelihood of grapevine farmers in the study area. The study adopted a cross-sectional explanatory research design incorporating purposive and systematic random sampling techniques. The study sample comprised 219 households of grapevine farmers. Primary data from households and key informants were collected through household survey, Focus Group Discussion (FGD), interview, and field observation, while secondary data were collected through documentary reviews including annual reports from the DAICO and weather reports of Dodoma City for the past 30 years from TMA. Times Series Analysis were used to establish the trend of climate parameters and descriptive statistics such as mean, frequency and percentages were computed to examine the farmers’ perception on climate change adaptation measures in controlling pests and diseases and assessing the implications of controlling pests and diseases to the livelihood of grapevine farmers in the study area. Moreover, pairwise ranking was used during FGD to screen out some factors out of many contradicting factors under considerations. The results show that for the past 30 years (1988-2018) climate variables in Dodoma region have been changing in fluctuating patterns. The results show that mean annual temperatures and wind speed have been increasing respectively, while mean annual rainfall have been decreasing. The impacts of climate change have been observed through the outbreak of pests and diseases. Grapevine farmers have adopted different adaptation measures such as spraying of pesticides, and insecticides, pruning and maintaining farm cleanliness to control pests and diseases. It is recommended that, the government should subsidies inputs used in controlling pests and diseases and emphasis on the adoption of Integrated Pest Management System.