Socio-demographic determinants of climate change adaptation practices in agro-ecological zones: A case study of Chamwino and Igunga districts, Tanzania

The global impacts of climate change have led to the development of various adaptation strategies, including Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) practices. In Tanzania, the introduction of CCA practices through eco-village projects between 2011 and 2019 reflects ongoing efforts to combat climate change effects. However, scientific understanding of the socio-demographic factors influencing households' decisions to adopt CCA practices remains limited. This study investigates the influence of socio-demographic factors on the adoption of CCA practices in the agro-ecological zones of Chamwino and Igunga districts, representing central and western Tanzania. Data were collected from 295 respondents through household surveys, complemented by key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs). Socio-demographic factors such as gender, age, education level, land ownership, and training attendance were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Pearson’s Chi-square test was employed to assess the statistical significance of the association between socio-demographic factors and agro-ecological zones, while a multivariate probit model was used to analyze the impact of socio-demographic factors on the adoption of CCA practices. The findings reveal that CCA adoption varies across zones, with the western zone showing a higher adoption rate. Chi-square results indicated significant associations between CCA adoption and factors such as soil water conservation, farmyard manure, mixed cropping, plant spacing, and the use of improved seeds and breeds (p<0.05). The multivariate probit model showed that gender, experience, land ownership, and training attendance significantly influenced adoption, with these factors promoting more practices compared to age, marital status, and education level. These insights are crucial for policymakers and local agencies to ensure that CCA initiatives are inclusive and address the diverse needs of different demographic groups.