Female farmers’ living conditions and vulnerability towards climate change in northern Tanzania
In Tanzania, entire families depend on their women for survival, since they do most of the work in the household and are also the food producers. Despite this important role, women are being aggrieved and lack enough power, rights and access to land tenure. Ignoring women’s importance in this way may lead to disastrous consequences, as climate changes are a major threat to those people depending on nature for their survival. Vi Agroforestry is doing a tremendous job in improving the living conditions for the small-scale East African farmers by educating them in agricultural techniques that will have a positive effect on their standard of living.
This study shows that this work helps the farmers in their everyday life by improving living conditions, which includes bigger harvests, more nutritious and balanced diet, and the possibility of taking loans through micro-financing. However, when it comes to women having more empowerment in their society, there is still a lot to be done since there are huge obstacles standing in their way, such as politics, ancient culture, customs and beliefs, all of which prevent women from attaining the acknowledgement they rightly deserve. And most importantly, when the climate begins to change more rapidly, women will be a major influence regarding adaptation to climate changes that will affect these people’s lives dramatically.
Fagerström, Å. (2011). Female farmers’ living conditions and vulnerability towards climate change in northern Tanzania. Bachelor’s Thesis. Malmö University.
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