Floods stress in lowland rice production: experiences of rice farmers in Kilombero and Lower-Rufiji floodplains, Tanzania

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Standard

Floods stress in lowland rice production : experiences of rice farmers in Kilombero and Lower-Rufiji floodplains, Tanzania. / Sulle Michael, Paulo; Mwakyusa, Lupakisyo; G. Sanga, Hilda; J. Shitindi, Mawazo; Kwaslema, Damiano R.; Herzog, Max; L. Meliyo, Joel; Massawe, Boniface H. J.

In: Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, Vol. 7, 1206754, 2023.

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Harvard

Sulle Michael, P, Mwakyusa, L, G. Sanga, H, J. Shitindi, M, Kwaslema, DR, Herzog, M, L. Meliyo, J & Massawe, BHJ 2023, 'Floods stress in lowland rice production: experiences of rice farmers in Kilombero and Lower-Rufiji floodplains, Tanzania', Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, vol. 7, 1206754. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1206754

APA

Sulle Michael, P., Mwakyusa, L., G. Sanga, H., J. Shitindi, M., Kwaslema, D. R., Herzog, M., L. Meliyo, J., & Massawe, B. H. J. (2023). Floods stress in lowland rice production: experiences of rice farmers in Kilombero and Lower-Rufiji floodplains, Tanzania. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7, [1206754]. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1206754

Vancouver

Sulle Michael P, Mwakyusa L, G. Sanga H, J. Shitindi M, Kwaslema DR, Herzog M et al. Floods stress in lowland rice production: experiences of rice farmers in Kilombero and Lower-Rufiji floodplains, Tanzania. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 2023;7. 1206754. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1206754

Author

Sulle Michael, Paulo ; Mwakyusa, Lupakisyo ; G. Sanga, Hilda ; J. Shitindi, Mawazo ; Kwaslema, Damiano R. ; Herzog, Max ; L. Meliyo, Joel ; Massawe, Boniface H. J. / Floods stress in lowland rice production : experiences of rice farmers in Kilombero and Lower-Rufiji floodplains, Tanzania. In: Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 2023 ; Vol. 7.

Bibtex

@article{8bd5e649a1384da3bf48264f9b0d334c,
title = "Floods stress in lowland rice production: experiences of rice farmers in Kilombero and Lower-Rufiji floodplains, Tanzania",
abstract = "The resilience of rice production to floods is a crucial aspect of agricultural development in flood-prone regions. However, little is known about the farming practices and challenges of rice farmers in two river basins in Tanzania: Lower-Rufiji and Kilombero, where rice is the main crop grown. This study aimed to investigate the experiences of farmers in these two rice-growing floodplains regarding the impact of floods on lowland rice production and farmer livelihoods, and the strategies they use to cope with floods. The study used a mixed-methods approach that involved household surveys, key informant interviews, and transect walks to collect data from 180 rice farmers and 14 experts and community leaders. The data analysis revealed that floods were the dominant stressor affecting rice production, occurring mostly during the long rainy season and experienced by all farmers in both locations. Floods not only caused significant crop losses, especially in Lower-Rufiji where farmers reported losing between 75 and 100% of their yield in cases of extreme floods, but also made it difficult to establish and manage crops, leading to crop land abandonment. Floods also affected the livelihoods of rice farmers by forcing them to abandon, rent, or sell their farms. Coexistence of floods with other biotic and abiotic stresses such as crop diseases and droughts also limited the use of short maturing high yielding rice varieties. Farmers have adopted on-farm strategies such as adjusting planting schedules, using different varieties of rice, changing to other crops or activities after the floods to cope with floods, but these practices face numerous challenges. The study recommends the development of early warning systems, breeding for flood-tolerant rice varieties, introgression of tolerance traits to multiple stresses and improving crop establishment methods to enhance the resilience of farmers to floods and other extreme climate events.",
author = "{Sulle Michael}, Paulo and Lupakisyo Mwakyusa and {G. Sanga}, Hilda and {J. Shitindi}, Mawazo and Kwaslema, {Damiano R.} and Max Herzog and {L. Meliyo}, Joel and Massawe, {Boniface H. J.}",
year = "2023",
doi = "10.3389/fsufs.2023.1206754",
language = "English",
volume = "7",
journal = "Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems",
issn = "2571-581X",
publisher = "Frontiers Media S.A.",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Floods stress in lowland rice production

T2 - experiences of rice farmers in Kilombero and Lower-Rufiji floodplains, Tanzania

AU - Sulle Michael, Paulo

AU - Mwakyusa, Lupakisyo

AU - G. Sanga, Hilda

AU - J. Shitindi, Mawazo

AU - Kwaslema, Damiano R.

AU - Herzog, Max

AU - L. Meliyo, Joel

AU - Massawe, Boniface H. J.

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - The resilience of rice production to floods is a crucial aspect of agricultural development in flood-prone regions. However, little is known about the farming practices and challenges of rice farmers in two river basins in Tanzania: Lower-Rufiji and Kilombero, where rice is the main crop grown. This study aimed to investigate the experiences of farmers in these two rice-growing floodplains regarding the impact of floods on lowland rice production and farmer livelihoods, and the strategies they use to cope with floods. The study used a mixed-methods approach that involved household surveys, key informant interviews, and transect walks to collect data from 180 rice farmers and 14 experts and community leaders. The data analysis revealed that floods were the dominant stressor affecting rice production, occurring mostly during the long rainy season and experienced by all farmers in both locations. Floods not only caused significant crop losses, especially in Lower-Rufiji where farmers reported losing between 75 and 100% of their yield in cases of extreme floods, but also made it difficult to establish and manage crops, leading to crop land abandonment. Floods also affected the livelihoods of rice farmers by forcing them to abandon, rent, or sell their farms. Coexistence of floods with other biotic and abiotic stresses such as crop diseases and droughts also limited the use of short maturing high yielding rice varieties. Farmers have adopted on-farm strategies such as adjusting planting schedules, using different varieties of rice, changing to other crops or activities after the floods to cope with floods, but these practices face numerous challenges. The study recommends the development of early warning systems, breeding for flood-tolerant rice varieties, introgression of tolerance traits to multiple stresses and improving crop establishment methods to enhance the resilience of farmers to floods and other extreme climate events.

AB - The resilience of rice production to floods is a crucial aspect of agricultural development in flood-prone regions. However, little is known about the farming practices and challenges of rice farmers in two river basins in Tanzania: Lower-Rufiji and Kilombero, where rice is the main crop grown. This study aimed to investigate the experiences of farmers in these two rice-growing floodplains regarding the impact of floods on lowland rice production and farmer livelihoods, and the strategies they use to cope with floods. The study used a mixed-methods approach that involved household surveys, key informant interviews, and transect walks to collect data from 180 rice farmers and 14 experts and community leaders. The data analysis revealed that floods were the dominant stressor affecting rice production, occurring mostly during the long rainy season and experienced by all farmers in both locations. Floods not only caused significant crop losses, especially in Lower-Rufiji where farmers reported losing between 75 and 100% of their yield in cases of extreme floods, but also made it difficult to establish and manage crops, leading to crop land abandonment. Floods also affected the livelihoods of rice farmers by forcing them to abandon, rent, or sell their farms. Coexistence of floods with other biotic and abiotic stresses such as crop diseases and droughts also limited the use of short maturing high yielding rice varieties. Farmers have adopted on-farm strategies such as adjusting planting schedules, using different varieties of rice, changing to other crops or activities after the floods to cope with floods, but these practices face numerous challenges. The study recommends the development of early warning systems, breeding for flood-tolerant rice varieties, introgression of tolerance traits to multiple stresses and improving crop establishment methods to enhance the resilience of farmers to floods and other extreme climate events.

U2 - 10.3389/fsufs.2023.1206754

DO - 10.3389/fsufs.2023.1206754

M3 - Journal article

VL - 7

JO - Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

JF - Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems

SN - 2571-581X

M1 - 1206754

ER -

ID: 375550531