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and 25% of the development assistance was channelled to the sectors which are mostly affected by climate risk. Mongi, Majule and Lyimo (2010) observed that, in Tanzania, in 2006 the country experienced a major drought, which caused severe food shortages and power crises. The study found that the cost of food shortages to the country’s economy was estimated to be US$200 million in food importation and distribution.
Thus, as pointed out by Mertz, Mbow, Reenberg and Diouf (2009), there is an urgent need to link climate vulnerabilities and development policies, because of the strong association with developing countries’ development initiatives. The view was supported by Devereux and Edward (2004), who warned that climate change and variability should not only be seen as an environmental concern, but as a growing risk to poverty eradication strategies and sustainable development.
Other authors argue that African governments should mainstream climate change and variability issues into policy development and investment in decision-making. Moser and Ekstrom (2010:2) cautioned that adaptation cannot be effective if it ignores the provision of adequate information, stakeholders’ participation, broad agreement and the social and biophysical breadth of the problem. Their study proposed a strategy for overcoming barriers to adaptation involving understanding, planning and managing stages. Understanding involves problem detection, problem redefinition, awareness heightening and information gathering and use. The second, planning stage, involves the development of adaptation options and selecting options. Lastly, the management phase involves implementing the selected option, monitoring the environment and outcomes of identified options and finally evaluating the situation.
In India, Dhaka, Chayal and Poonia (2010) stated that having knowledge of global climate change and variability is essential for embracing initiatives in developing mechanisms to adapt and respond to climate change and variability. Their study observed that adaptation to climate change and variability requires farmers to first note that climate has changed, so that they can identify possible useful adaptation options. In Canada, Smit and Skinner (2002) conducted a typological study on adaptation options in agriculture. The study found that technological developments, diversifying farm production practices, interventions through government programmes and insurance and farm financial management were components which stimulate adaptation in the agricultural sector. The authors emphasised the critical role
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of information provision to motivate the above adaptation initiatives. The study learned that most adaptation choices are modifications to known public policy. Farm practice decision- making needs to conform to both climate change and variability and non-climatic conditions, including social, economic and political.
From the literature reviewed it is apparent that developing countries will need much more investment and capital for mitigation and adaptation to climate change and variability. This is because climate change and variability affects livelihoods and in most African countries the agricultural sector is depended upon for economic growth and employment (Mertz, Mbow, Reenberg and Diouf 2009). As the literature shows (Gwambene 2007; Barbier, Yacouba, Karambiri, Zorome and Some 2009; Ziervogel and Zermoglio 2009; Lyimo and Kangalawe 2010), poor people are the worst affected because of widespread poverty, low adaptive capacity and dependence on the natural environment. In this regard, the role of timely information for development and adaptation to climate change and variability can never be overemphasised (Chikozho 2010).
3.7.2 Government Strategies on Environmental Conservation and Mitigation of Climate Change and Variability in Tanzania
Tanzania has signed and ratified a number of international treaties and agreements on managing and preserving the environment. These concern Ozone Layer Protection, the Biodiversity Treaty, Wetlands, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Climate Change- Kyoto-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification and Hazardous Waste (CIA Fact Book 2013).
Specifically, the treaties and agreements that government has signed at international level are the United Nations’ Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) of 1992 and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) of 1997 (URT 2012b).
Others include the Basel Convention on the Control of Trans-boundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal of 1989; the Vienna Convention on the Protection of the Ozone Layer and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer of 1993; the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) of 2001; the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) of 1992; the Convention on Preservation of Fauna and Flora in their Natural State of 1993 and the Convention on Sustainable Management of Lake Tanganyika of 2004 (URT 2012b).
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In addition, there have been a number of initiatives and studies aimed at addressing the adverse impacts of climate change and variability in Tanzania. These include the Inventory of Green House Gases (GHG) emissions; technological and other options for GHG Mitigation; the Assessment of Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change; the Development of the Climate Change National Action Plan and the Adoption of the National Environment Policy (URT 2012b). Other government initiatives concerning responding to climate change and variability include the Preparation of the Initial National Communication to the UNFCC; the Revised National Energy Policy; the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) and the Enactment of the Environment Management Act-Cap 1991.
Additional government initiatives to address climate change and variability are the Assessment of Technology Needs Assessment (TNA); the National Clean Development Mechanism Handbook; the National Strategy for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+); Climate Change, Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation in Tanzania (CCIAM); Climate Change Impacts Assessment-Tanzania and Climate Change Adaptation in Africa (CCAA) (URT 2012b).
Recently, there have been two major climate change and variability farmer-centred outreach programmes conducted between the government of Tanzania and donors in collaboration with higher learning institutions. The projects are aimed at disseminating information and innovations for adaptation of climate change and variability. The projects include the CCAA project, which commenced in 2007 and the CCIAM programme launched on 2009. The CCAA project aimed at imparting innovations and information farmers to enhance their capacity to adapt to climate change and variability. The CCIAM programme focused on Reducing Emissions and Desertification (REDD) in Tanzania. It is evident that Tanzania has engaged in diverse policy initiatives in this area. The current study investigates the role of the CCAA project in the dissemination of information on innovations to mitigate climate change and variability.
3.8 Specific Communication Channels Used in Information Dissemination for