Social perception and determinants of Ngitili system adoption for forage and land conservation in Maswa district, Tanzania

Abstract

Understanding of the processes that determine land conservation practices is essential in designing appropriate intervention to minimise the land degradation problem. This study was conducted to assess the farmers’ perception toward deferred grazing system of enclosures (Ngitili), examine the perceived benefits of Ngitili and define the socio-economic variables that potentially explain adoption of Ngitili. The study was conducted in Maswa district; involving a sample of 228 households. Data were collected through household survey, key in formant interviews and field observation. Data analysis techniques included descriptive statistics, principal component analysis and binary logistic regression. The study findings show that 75% of farmers had adopted Ngitili. Farmers associated Ngitili system with increase in access to livelihood needs. The main benefits obtained from the system included supply of dry season forages, improved land condition and provision of household energy. The realization of benefits was generally a function of number of years a household had established Ngitili. The likelihood of establishing Ngitili was higher for household heads who were male (p = 0.05), and for those who had formal education (p = 0.04) and access to extension support services (p = 0.02). Other factors that contributed favourably to the adoption of this system were ownership of more than 20 tropical livestock units (p = 0.01) and possession of more than three plots of land (p = 0.02) located closer (< 3 km) to homesteads (p = 0.01). Factors such as land fragmentation, agricultural expansion and poor enforcement of Ngitili protection measures had negative influence on the system. Overall, this paper identifies the key drivers of Ngitili system adoption necessary to enhance land conservation and environmental protection in the semi-arid areas. To ensure sustainability of the Ngitili system, there is a definite need to promote the factors that enhance community participation in land conservation, improve provision of education and extension services and build strong institutions that help to regulate access and use of resources in restored areas.