Perceived Effects of Climate Change on Agricultural Production: A Gendered Analysis Done in Bahi and Kondoa Districts, Dodoma Region, Tanzania

Abstract

Climate change literature has revealed that the effects of climate change on women and men are not the same and that women are more likely to be severely affected by climate change. However, data to indicate the way men and women are affected by climate change are missing. A study to examine effects of climate change on agricultural production by sex was done in Bahi and Kondoa Districts, Dodoma region, Tanzania. Specifically the study analyzed perception of climate change and effects of climate change on agricultural production. A sample of 360 respondents, 12 focus groups of discussants and 78 key informants were consulted. Analysis of quantitative data involved descriptive statistics and qualitative data were analyzed by content analysis. Results showed that men and women perceived and were affected differently by climate change. Women were severely affect by effect of climate change that caused hunger/food shortage, that caused them to be subjected to bad food debts and effects that caused them to waste productive time in less productive activities; whereas men were severely affected by the effects of climate change that involved wasting of resources; that associated with out-migration and effects that reduced status of respondents. Using their knowledge, respondents managed to perceive and identify climate change effects. The study recommends Tanzania and other Less Developed Countries to use available knowledge system to learn and manage climate change effects.

Key words: Effects of climate change, Men and women, Perception, Agricultural production