Tanzania country climate risk profile series: Iringa District
Climate change is a major challenge facing the agriculture sector in Tanzania, especially with regard to small-scale farmers. There is an increasing realization of the need to make agriculture more resilient to climate change. This profile seeks to identify scalable investments in climate-smart agriculture (CSA) in Iringa district. The profile is organized into six main sections, each reflecting an essential analytical step in studying current and potential options for climate adaptation of important agricultural commodities in Iringa district.
The report first offers an overview of livelihoods, the role of agriculture in the district, a description of the key value chains for food security and livelihoods, and major challenges to agricultural development. The subsequent sections then discuss significant climatic threats based on historic and projected climate data, as well as perceptions on climate change from farmers and experts in the district. This serves as a foundation for the subsequent discussions on vulnerabilities and climate risks along the value chains, suggested adaptation strategies, and the challenges associated with adoption, all based on farmer and expert views.
Next, the paper discusses CSA enablers within the Iringa context, including policies, institutions, governance, finances, and existing gaps and opportunities. Finally, pathways for bridging the gaps and strategies to strengthen institutional capacities and collaborations are highlighted.