Wat'er They Thinking? Smallholder farmers' attitudes towards the provision of drinking water for dairy cows in Kagera, Tanzania

Thesis prepared for Bachelor of Science co-op in International Development Studies (IDS). Please contact the researcher for further comments or inquiries. barbara.forbes@gmail.comAgriculture’s large share of Tanzanian GDP and the large percentage of rural poor engaged in the sector make it a focus for many development projects that see it as an area of attention for reducing rural poverty. Drivers of these projects include NGOs who, in theory, engage in participatory methods to incorporate the views of project beneficiaries and give them ownership of the project. This case study incorporates research from the community of Kamachumu where the international NGO, World Vision, implemented a dairy cow loan project with a limited degree of participation to foster growth in the agriculture sector. To collect data on current norms in livestock management amongst loan recipients, field visits and interviews were conducted. The study finds that despite continuation of the loans since the NGO’s departure, productivity is limited by how the cows are being managed, particularly with many animals not having ad lib access to drinking water. This study explores reasons why farmers do or do not provide their cows with unlimited access to drinking water and finds there are many barriers farmers face. A lack of education proves to be a significant barrier and the inaccessibility of water as well as inadequate water infrastructure also pose barriers. These results suggest an increase in extension services and national livestock policy that considers the specific realities of small-scale dairy farmers