Browsing by Author "Mahoo, Henry F."

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Agronomic management strategies for adaptation to the current climate variability: the case of North-Eastern Tanzania
(2014) Tumbo, Siza D.; Rwehumbiza, Filbert B.; Kahimba, Frederick C.; Enfors, Elin; Mahoo, Henry F.; Mbilinyi, Boniface P.; Mkoga, Zacharia; Churi, Ayubu
Rainfed agriculture in semi-arid areas of sub-Saharan Africa faces a great challenge due to increasingly high variability and unreliability of rainfall. Two of the effective adaptive responses to reduce the vulnerability to the changing climate are through use of soil and water conservation technologies and employment of improved agronomic practices. A study was conducted to quantify the risk and profitability of agronomic management strategies for maize using long-term climatic data and a crop simulation model. APSIM model was used to perform long-term simulations of different management strategies. Simulated maize grain yield for different cultivars and sets of management strategies were evaluated to establish the associated risks and benefits. Results indicate that planting Situka or SC401 during Masika season instead of Kito or other cultivars, gives a yield of more than 1 ton/ha under conventional methods. Maize yield increases to 2t/ha or even higher with the use of fertilizers and recommended management practices. The cost benefit analysis indicated that income greater than USD 700 per ha could be obtained when recommended practices are applied, with Situka and SC401 as the maize varieties planted. Based on the results of the study, it is recommended that farmers should employ improved agronomic management practices only when the seasonal forecast indicates above normal rainfall. The early availability of seasonal rainfall forecast is thus vital. Alternatively, farmers are much safer if they continue to employ their conventional approaches of farming because these have lower risks.
An economic comparison between alternative rice farming systems in Tanzania using a monte carlo simulation approach
(MDPI) Kadig, Ibrahim L.; Mutabazi, Khamaldin D.; Philip, Damas; Richardson, James W.; Bizimana, Jean-Claude; Mbungu, Winfred; Mahoo, Henry F.; Sieber, Stefan
Mapping uses and competition for shared water resources: conflicts and values in Mkoji sub-catchment, Tanzania
(Loskopdam, South Africa) Hermans, Leon M.; Kadigi, Reuben M. J.; Mahoo, Henry F.; Halsema, Gerardo E. van
Mapping uses and competition for shared water resources: conflicts and values in Mkoji sub-catchment, Tanzania
(Loskopdam, South Africa, 2004) Hermans, Leon M.; Kadigi, Reuben M. J.; Mahoo, Henry F.; Halsema, Gerardo E. van
Conflicts over water are a common feature in closing basins and the difficulties in resolving them provide a serious barrier for the formulation of an effective IWRM strategy. Understanding the specifics of a conflict, including its dynamics and its evolution, provides an essential basis for subsequent efforts towards conflict resolution. Since conflicts are driven by interests and values of stakeholders, insight into the values underlying conflicts may further help the identification of promising ways to resolve them. Especially the latter is of crucial importance, as the identification of effective solutions to conflicts still remains more of an art than a craft. This paper discusses the use of two analytic frameworks that support a better understanding of local conflicts over water: conflict analysis and value- focused thinking. It illustrates the use of these frameworks to analyse local water conflicts in a closed sub-catchment in Tanzania. It shows how these frameworks support the identification of solutions that can help local stakeholders to “create value” in closing basins. On the basis of this illustrative analysis, the paper argues that these two frameworks deserve a wider use in the field of local water management.
Use of a hydrological model for environmental management of the usangu wetlands, Tanzania
(IWMI Research) Kashaigili, Japhet J.; McCartney, Matthew P.; Mahoo, Henry F.; Lankford, Bruce A.; Mbilinyi, Boniface P.; Yawson, Daniel K.; Tumbo, Siza D.
Use of a hydrological model for environmental management of the usangu wetlands, Tanzania
(IWMI Research, 2016-05) Kashaigili, Japhet J.; McCartney, Matthew P.; Mahoo, Henry F.; Lankford, Bruce A.; Mbilinyi, Boniface P.; Yawson, Daniel K.; Tumbo, Siza D.
This report presents the findings of a study to assess changes to flows into, and downstream of, the Usangu Wetlands, located in the headwaters of the Great Ruaha River, Tanzania. Hydrological data, in conjunction with remote sensing techniques, were used to provide insights into changes that have occurred to the Eastern Wetland. Results indicate that, between 1958 and 2004, inflows to the wetland declined by about 70 percent in the dry season months (July to November) as a consequence of increased human withdrawals, primarily for irrigation. This resulted in a decrease in the dry season area of the wetland of approximately 40 percent (i.e., from 160 km 2 to 93 km 2 ). In the last decade, outflows from the wetland have ceased for extended periods. An environmentalflow model indicates that a minimum dry season outflow of approximately 0.6 m 3 s -1 is essential to sustain the basic ecological condition of the river. To maintain this outflow from the wetland, a minimum average dry season inflow of approximately 7 m 3 s -1 (i.e., approximately double current dry season flows) is required. To achieve this, dry season flows in the perennial rivers discharging into the wetland would have to be apportioned so that 20 percent is used for anthropogenic purposes and the remaining 80 percent discharges into the wetland. There issignificant potential for improving water use efficiency. However, to ensure minimum downstream flow requirements, consideration should also be given to active water management within the wetland itself.