Classification and characterisation of livestock production systems in northern Tanzania

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229478
• Publication Date: 2020-12-30T19:34:11Z
• Authors: William A. de Gla...; Alicia Davis; Kathryn J. Allan; Joram Buza; John R. Claxton; John A. Crump; Jo E. B. Halliday; Paul C. D. Johnson; Tito J. Kibona; Blandina T. Mmbaga; Emmanuel S. Swai; Christopher B. Uz...; Jonathan Yoder; Jo Sharp; Sarah Cleaveland
• Keywords: Vulnerability; Pastoralism

Livestock keepers in sub-Saharan Africa face a range of pressures, including climate change, land loss, restrictive policies, and population increase. Widespread adaptation response can lead to the emergence new, non-traditional typologies livestock production. We sought characterise production systems two administrative regions northern Tanzania, an area undergoing rapid social, economic, environmental change. Questionnaire spatial data were collected from 404 livestock-keeping households 21 villages Arusha Manyara Regions 2016. Multiple factor analysis hierarchical cluster used classify into based on household-level characteristics. Adversity-based indicators vulnerability, reports hunger, illness, livestock, crop losses compared between systems. Three distinct clusters emerged through this process. The ethnic, management characteristics each broadly mapped onto traditional definitions ‘pastoral’, ‘agro-pastoral’ ‘smallholder’ study area, suggesting that quantitative classification system is complementary more qualitative methods. Our approach allowed us demonstrate diversity at small scales, with almost half comprising than one system. also found change within systems, most notably adoption agriculture majority pastoral households. System-level heterogeneities vulnerability evident, agro-pastoral likely report hunger illness people losses. provide context for assessing household Tanzania. Policy initiatives improve community well-being should recognise continuing exist scales.