Farmers’ Perceptions on Salinity Problems in Irrigated Fields in Kilosa District

Abstract

Soil salinity contributes to one of the most serious ecological and environmental problems in most of the irrigation schemes in Tanzania. Understanding farmers’ perceptions of soil salinity and its effects on crop productivity is important in promoting soil and water conservation practices. A study was conducted in Chanzuru and Ilonga villages in Kilosa District in 2016 to determine farmers’ perceptions on soil salinity problems in the District. Therefore, a socio-economic survey was carried out on 60 respondents.  Data were collected using the semi-structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed using SPSS descriptive statistics and chi-square test. The finding of the study showed that farmers perceived salinity more on the basis of location than they did on the basis of socio-demographics.  The main causes of soil salinity as perceived by farmers were poor quality of irrigation water and poor drainage systems. Some socioeconomic and demographic characteristics that significantly influenced the farmers’ perceptions were sex and household size. The perceptions of farmers in the study area varied significantly from village to village, with their socio-demographic determinants. Farmers adapted the strategy of crop diversification and increase in farm size as a response to the problem of salinity occurring in their fields. Farmer perception on salinity should therefore be used as entry point by stakeholders to develop intervention programs that help to solve the problems occurring in the farmers’ fields.

Key words: Salinity, farmers’ perception, problem confrontation index, crop diversification, irrigation water, scheme, sources of information, extension service