Environmental Impacts of Round Potato Production at Kibohelo Hamlet Lushoto District, Tanzania

Bachelorarbeit aus dem Jahr 2015 im Fachbereich Agrarwissenschaften, , Sprache: Deutsch, Abstract: This study seeks to document the Environmental Impacts of round potato production at Kibohelo hamlet, Lushoto district, Tanga Tanzania. The study was conducted in one hamlet, namely Kibohelo hamlet, as the representative of the whole Lushoto district and Tanga region in general as one of the area where round potato are being produced. The study evaluates the awareness of local community on the environmental impacts of potato production where by findings from this study indicate that majority of respondents, (53.57%) were aware of the changes in environment around cultivated field. However, (21.43%) respondents claimed not to know anything about environmental impacts of potatoes production or any changes related to it. The study also identifies farming practices whereby crop rotation (28.57%), mulching (21.43%), miraba (16.07%) and small scale irrigation (19.64%) were found to be used by the farmers. As well as determines the problems associated with the farming practices to the environment whereby soil by (55.36%) as commented by farmers in which its perceived to have changed than the other environmental aspects this is due to application of fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and chemicals which are used to remove fog over the crops which directly end up to the soil. The other aspect seeming to have change is water, where by 1.79% of the farmers reported it. Purposive and Simple random sampling procedures were employed to collect the sample with the sample size of 56 respondents from the study area. Data were collected through the main technique including interviews based upon questionnaire forms and personal observation through observation guide were conducted and the data collected from questionnaire were analyzed by computer software known as SPSS. The cross tabulations, charts, frequencies and percentages were obtained whereby results are presented in form of statement, tables, charts or graphs. The findings of this study are crucial for the creation and increase community's awareness (especially farmers) as well as the results are useful to the Ministry Of Agriculture, Food and Cooperation to prepare and or in the innovations of agricultural policies and plans about adaptation and mitigation measures to deal with the problems associated with the farming practices to the environment but also the study adds more knowledge on the existing literature and will act as supportive insights for further researches.