| dc.description.abstract | A study was conducted in two pastoral communities in the reserve grazing areas. These
were the reserve grazing pastures, used by the Gogo of Makang'wa, central Tanzania and
Maasai of Tingatinga, northern Tanzania, as a strategy to alleviate acute dry seasonal feed
shortage. For each study area it composed of part I on socio-economics information and
part II on primary production and ecology.
The data from part I indicated that households had sufficient number and right categories of
people to perform roles and responsibilities on the basis of sex and age. The results of age
and education showed that most of the household heads were old people, who still held to
traditions and customs. They had difficulties in perceiving present day technological
approaches; they were not easily agreeable to changes compared to young people. There
was a significant difference (P <0.05) between ownership of land for cultivation and reserve
grazing areas in the two ~!U~y,area. In Makang'wa, 71% of the respondents indicated that
land was mainly under cultivation while in Tingatinga, 72% of the respondents indicated
that land is set aside for reserve grazing. On average Tingatinga owned large herds with an
average of90 cattle, 28 sheep and 44 goats per household, while in Makang'wa the average
was 48 cattle, 9 sheep and 15 goats per household. The major problems affecting livestock
production in the study areas were feed shortage and diseases, as indicated by the
respondents declaring the problems 60% in Makang'wa and 58% in Tingatinga.
Data on part II of the study revealed that on average forage production was higher in
reserve grazing areas, i.e., 3677 kgDM/ha in Tingatinga and 2505 kgDM/ha in Makang'wa.
There was a significant difference (P < 0.01) in forage production between sites. However,
there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the locations.
There was a significant difference of woody species between sites (P < 0.01). On average
forage samples from Makang'wa and Tingatinga had low values of energy (6.81 ME
Mj/kgDm and 6.92 Mj/kgDM) and crude protein (5.1% and 5.5%) respectively. It was
evident that woody species, if well managed, increased the diversity of forage resources and
forage quality. The results showed that the forage species studied in reserve grazing areas
cannot sustain livestock productivity all the year. A proper mixture of grass and legumes
will result in forage of higher yield and better quality to support livestock.
This traditional practices provide the basis and opportunities for development of improved
silvopastoral systems. Though traditional range management is blamed for not being
environmentally friendly, the results indicate that there is potential for now and in the future | en |
