JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND PRACTICE
Integrity Research Journals
ISSN: 2536-7072
Model: Open Access/Peer Reviewed
DOI: 10.31248/JASP
Start Year: 2016
Email: jasp@integrityresjournals.org
An analysis of the Maasai pastoralists’ knowledge on climate-smart agricultural practices: Implications for sustainable cattle production in Arusha Region, Tanzania
https://doi.org/10.31248/JASP2025.545 | Article Number: 9F941D201 | Vol.10 (5) - October 2025
Received Date: 08 September 2025 | Accepted Date: 08 October 2025 | Published Date: 30 October 2025
Authors: Upendo Saitabau Mollel* , Katsumori Hatanaka , Ramadhona Saville and Nina N. Shimoguchi
Keywords: knowledge, Cattle production, climate-smart agricultural practices, pastoralists.
Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is widely acknowledged to ensure agricultural sustainability in the face of climate change. The study analysed the knowledge of the Maasai pastoralists on CSA practices for sustainable cattle production in the Arusha region, Tanzania. CSA practices selected for the study included improved fodder production and conservation, rainwater harvesting, rotational grazing, manure management, zero grazing and improved cattle breeds. Purposive and random sampling techniques were employed in selecting 270 pastoralists. Data was collected through a semi-structured questionnaire survey and analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression. Descriptive results showed that the majority (70%) of pastoralists have no knowledge about improved fodder production and conservation, low knowledge on improved cattle breeds (57.8%), zero grazing (53.7%), manure management (41.5%) and rotational grazing (48.9%), while 61.5% have moderate knowledge on rainwater harvesting. Multiple regression results revealed that socio-economic factors such as literacy, access to extension services, household income, farm size and method of feeding cattle significantly influence the knowledge level of pastoralists on CSA practices. The study recommends the need for the government to increase knowledge dissemination of CSA practices to the Maasai pastoral communities, through improvement of agricultural extension services and support accessibility of most Maasai pastoralists to formal education, so as to enhance knowledge acquisition of CSA practices from various sources, such as written materials.
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