Author:

Keywords:

Science & Technology, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Agriculture, Multidisciplinary, Agriculture, Indigenous knowledge, erosion control measures, farmers' perception, Miraba, Terraces, Usambara Mountains, Tanzania, WATER CONSERVATION, ULUGURU MOUNTAINS, HIGHLANDS

Abstract:

This study was conducted to identify indigenous soil erosion control measures in the Usambara Mountains, Lushoto, Tanzania. The aim was to assess the effectiveness of the indigenous soil erosion control measures in the area and their corresponding problems according to farmers‘ perception. The study was expected to generate new knowledge that will contribute to the efforts endeavours to link the indigenous knowledge with the recently introduced soil erosion control measures for effective soil conservation practices that are largely acceptable to the farming community. Data collection was carried out through interviews with key informants and elders in the study area, focused group discussions with community representatives, in-depth household interviews using a structured questionnaire and participant‘s observation during transect walks. Descriptive statistical analysis was employed in exploring the data for distribution of responses, central tendencies and dispersion. Cross tabulation and multiple response analyses was also performed to ascertain responses and percentages.The study shows that 37% of the farmer‘s response identified Miraba (Rectangular Bound Grass Strips) that do not follow contours as a unique indigenous soil erosion control practice in the Usambara Mountains. Other indigenous technologies identified include use of Tughutu (Veronia subligera) in the border of field partitions or fields (14%), and mboji (band of green manure) (13%). In the study area, the majority of the respondents mentioned Miraba (31%) as the most effective type of erosion control practice followed by contour grass strip (20%) and terraces (2%). It was observed that when Soil and Water Conservation agencies introduced contours with grass strip as a soil erosion control measure in the studied villages, they could not make distinction between Miraba (an indigenous technology (IT)) practiced by the farmers on one hand and grass strip on contours on the other hand as there was no critical effort made to include farmers IT in the technology development. According to elder farmers, Miraba were initially established to reduce the speed of the river floods runoff in the valley bottoms. However, through evolution the technology was transferred and applied on the sloping landscape where interrill, rill and gully erosion is dominant. During transect walks, severe soil erosion and gullies were observed. The interviewed key informants mentioned these erosion processes as one of the problems associated with improper terrace construction, while accelerated runoff was mentioned as the problem associated with poor implementation of the Miraba technique on the slopping lands. It is therefore concluded that there is a need to differentiate farmers‘ perception and objectives on indigenous knowledge on one hand and on the introduced technologies on the other hand in order to develop a holistic approach that include farmers IT in the overall technological development. The study underscores the importance of further research to evaluate the effectiveness of the Miraba technique and to improve on its performance through linkage with the recently introduced soil erosion control practices. Training on the use of introduced technologies to improve the effectiveness of indigenous technologies is strongly recommended.