Adoption of Sustainable Land Management Practices in Mbulu District, a Semi-arid Area in Northern Tanzania

Abstract

As an outcome of agricultural activities, land degradation causes detrimental impacts on the environment and soil. It requires sustainable measures to combat the problem that is becoming critical worldwide. Despite many technological improvement programmes in agriculture, especially on land conservation, adoption has remained low in many developing countries. This situation triggered a further investigation into potential factors influencing sustainable land management practices (SLMPs) adoption in Mbulu district, a semiarid area in northern Tanzania so as to determine and suggest appropriate measures that can promote greater adoption. A cross-sectional study was conducted, and data from 120 farmers was collected using semi-structured questionnaires. The adoption index was computed and determined the level of SLMPs adoption to be low. Probit regression analysis examined the factors influencing the adoption of SLMPs. Results show that gender, marital status, education, land size, and the distance to the extension office significantly influenced the adoption of SLMPs. Specifically, being male, widowed, having formal education, owning a larger size of land, and being closer to the extension office significantly increased the likelihood of the adoption. Also, being unmarried and unaware of SLMPs reduced the probability of the adoption. Awareness-raising programmes must be more targeted and effective to reach the intended audience. In addition, promoting sustainable land management practices that support income diversification and livelihood improvement is crucial in the study area. Furthermore, the adoption of sustainable land management practices requires supportive policy and institutional frameworks in the study area. Overall, addressing these factors requires a multi-faceted approach that involves collaboration between various stakeholders, including farmers, communities, the government, civil society organisations, and the private sector. By working together, these stakeholders can create an enabling environment that promotes SLMPs adoption and contributes to more sustainable livelihoods and income diversification in the study area.