Indigenous soil-water management practices and food security: the case of the matengo pits farming system in Mbinga District, Tanzania.

A Thesis 2019This study presents an analysis of the dynamics of indigenous soil-water management practices, namely the Matengo pits farming system and their implications on household food security in Mbinga District, Tanzania. The study aimed at establishing the current changes of Matengo pits system, including emerging new practices and their driving forces and their effects on household food security. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies to obtain the data which were analysed using the statistical package for social science computer programme (SPSS). The findings indicated that some modifications have started taking place within and outside Matengo pits system. A total of 28.8% of interviewed farmers reckoned ploughing grasses under the soil after less than a week which was un-traditional because of having few grasses and timing of activities. About 14% of farmers have modified the grass alignment pattern into parallel lines down slope to simplify the work. However, about 50% of farmers claimed digging shallow pits mainly because of relying on communal or hired labour. Meanwhile, 75% of farmers acknowledged constructing medium sized Matengo pits for more space for crop planting. Around 17% of women were reported to have assumed full responsibility of slashing and organising grasses in their fields like men. Likewise, adult males had gone against their norms and traditions by taking part in digging Matengo pits. Social networks for sharing labour among the Matengo people were noted to have assumed new forms. Chama remained practised at family level, meanwhile the ngokela is currently organised through cash instead of sharing food. Penetration of the western culture and money economy into Matengo highlands propelled by globalization has contributed to these social changes. Institutional changes and agro-ecological variability have similarly played a pivotal role in changing the Matengo pits system. As for implication to food security, 62.9% of households were food insecure mainly because of poor crop yields. However, changes in Matengo pits farming system had no statistical significant relationship to household food security status. The findings call for further research on the effects of climatic change towards Matengo pits system, and its mitigation potential to enhance its sustainability