Information Needs and Sources of Maasai Pastoralists at Orkesumet in Simanjiro District Manyara Region -Tanzania Goodluck Mosha [email protected]
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University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal) Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln Summer 6-22-2018 Information Needs and Sources of Maasai Pastoralists at Orkesumet in Simanjiro District Manyara Region -Tanzania Goodluck Mosha [email protected] Obedy Lotegelwaki MU Mzumbe University, [email protected] David Onyango Nyakwaka MU Mzumbe University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac Part of the Library and Information Science Commons Mosha, Goodluck; Lotegelwaki, Obedy MU; and Nyakwaka, David Onyango MU, "Information Needs and Sources of Maasai Pastoralists at Orkesumet in Simanjiro District Manyara Region -Tanzania" (2018). Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal). 1882. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/1882 Information Needs and Sources of Maasai Pastoralists at Orkesumet in Simanjiro District Manyara Region -Tanzania By Lotegelwaki, Obedy1, Mosha, Goodluck2 and David, Onyago Nyakwaka3 Abstract Purpose: This paper reports a study, which examined the specific information needs and sources of Maasai pastoralists at Orkesumet area in Simanjiro District, Manyara -Tanzania Design/methodology/approach: The study used pragmatism paradigm which is a mixed method approach. Simple random sampling was used to select 40 respondents from the five villages (Mukumbi, Naibor-enderit, Narosoito, Orkirung’urung’ and Endonyengijape. Purposive sampling was used to select clan leaders (Ilaigwanak and Ingopir), two from each of the five villages forming ten purposively selected respondents. Questionnaire, interview schedule, and observation were designed to extract information from respondents. Findings: The findings of the study showed that, Maasai practicing pure pastoralism had different needs from those who practice agro-pastoralism. Traditional leaders and extension officers were regarded as the reliable sources of information. Mobile phones were preferred as a source of information but facing challenges. Acquaintance and family members were acknowledged as reliable sources of information. Maasai pastoralist face challenges in the use of information technology due to their low level of educational and inadequate formal sources of information. Practical implications – The authors anticipates that this study will act as an eye opener to the United Republic of Tanzania government and non-government organizations to think of providing appropriate reliable sources of information to Maasai pastoralists so that their contribution can be seen in the socio-economic development of the country. Originality/value – Several studies have been conducted on information needs and sources for different tribes in Tanzania. However, none of these studies have been conducted on Maasai pastoralist. This study is expected to serve as a stepping-stone for further studies on this neglected tribe in socio-economic activities in Tanzania. Keywords Information sources, information needs, Maasai pastoralist, pure pastoralism, agro- pastoralist, and Simanjiro district, 1 BSc-LIM -Student, Mzumbe University, Box 1, Mzumbe Tanzania, e-mail: [email protected] 2 Librarian- Mzumbe University Library, Box 4, Mzumbe University, Tanzania. email: [email protected] 3 Assistant Librarian- Mzumbe University Library, Box 4, Mzumbe University, Tanzania. email: [email protected] 1 Background of the Study The word Maasai is an English expression from the word Ilmaasai from one of the ethnic groups living in Kenya and Tanzania, which means the people who speaks Maa language (Mtaita, 1998). Maasai are pastoralists who are known to be nomads before the colonial times and after independence of all the East African countries, they are currently being categorized as Semi- nomads (Mollel, 2011). Maasai pastoralist lives in the interior plains where they can get green pastures and water for their animals. Information is slowly becoming one of be basic human needs, it ranks next to air, water, food and shelter (Devi and Dlamini, 2014). Information is therefore unavoidable ingredient in almost all forms of life. It is a prerequisite to the development of any society and is a driving force for development, whether economic, social, or political. Information helps people to make informed decisions relevant to their undertakings in all walks of life (Godlee et al., 2004 and Gathoni, 2012). Information according to (Uzezi, 2015) helps people to open up and provide opportunities for people to shape their lives, reduce vulnerability to sickness and misfortunes. Maasai are native African ethnic group of semi-nomadic people located in Tanzania and Kenya; they are among the most well known African ethnic groups internationally for being reluctant to adopt a more sedentary lifestyle. Their major economic activity is livestock keeping; however, some of them are currently engaged in crop cultivation. Nomadic life practiced by the Maasai require information to enable them to make informed decisions concerning livestock keeping, their health, education as well as political issues. As livestock keeping and crop cultivation systems become more complex, Maasai access to reliable, timely, and relevant information sources is becoming more critical to their survival (Coast, 2002). Information which livestock keepers access must be relevant and meaningful to farmers, in addition to being packaged and delivered in a way preferred by them (Diekmann, Loibl and Batte, 2009). Angello, Msuya and Matovelo (2016) emphasized that livestock keepers including pastoralists need information on animal diseases, nutrition, treatment and control of diseases, breeding techniques and markets for their products, among many other information needs. This is supported by Kalusopa (2005) who mentioned livestock diseases, disease diagnosis, pasture availability, livestock products management, and market and price as major information needs of livestock keepers. Furthermore, Luseno et al., (2003) suggest strongly that timely information on forage supplies is of vital importance to pastoralists. Description of Study Area Simanjiro District is one of the six districts of the Manyara Region in Tanzania. It is bordered to the north by Arusha Region, to the north east by Kilimanjaro Region, to the south east by Tanga Region, to the south by Kiteto District, to the south west by Dodoma Region and to the west by Babati Rural District. Simanjiro District is the largest of the four Maasai districts in Tanzania with a population of more than 71,531 undertaking pastoralism as a way of life (Ole- Lengisugi, 1994). The district headquarter is located in Orkesumetwhich is a Maasai word meaning “long wells of water". 2 Simanjiro District's location within Manyara Region Source: Google Map 2018 Statement of the Problem In Africa in general, very few studies have been conducted to assess information needs and sources used by pastoralists (Kaitho et al., 2007). In East Africa, where Maasai pastoralists lives no studies have so far been conducted to explore the information needs and sources of pastoralists. Nomadic life practiced by Maasai involves roaming around with their livestock throughout southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. Maasai herded livestock over large distances in order to make use of sparse resources such as pastures and water (Coast, 2002; Forstater, 2002, and Conroy (1999). All these endeavors require relevant information before making informed decision about moving or staying (Fratkin & Mearns, 2002). Information needed entails availability of water and pastures for grazing, and livestock diseases. A study by Wangui (2008) noted that the reasons for Maasai pastoralist having limited access to information is attributed to lack of the medias such as libraries, reliable cellular phone networks, newspapers, radios, TV stations and alike. Transhumance nature of their life contribute to the lack such services lack of the mentioned media.. Although there is a radio station located at Terat in Simanjiro District the Orkonerei Radio Service (ORS FM- Sauti ya Wafugaji) which disseminate information to the Maasai pastoralist using Maasai language, the frequency of the radio does not reach Orkesumet area. It is with above inadequacies that the researchers decided to conduct this study with an intention of identifying Information needs and source used by Maasai pastoralists at Orkesumet Area in Simanjiro District at Manyara Region, Tanzania and provide recommendations for improvement. Objectives of the Study The broad objective of the study was to assess the information needs and sources used by Maasai pastoralists at Orkesumet in Simanjiro District Manyara Region. The specific objectives of the study include: 1. Identifying the types of information needed by Maasai pastoralist at Orkesumet Area in Simanjiro District. 3 2. Determining sources of information which Maasai pastoralists nomads at Orkesumet Area in Simanjiro District preferred and utilize. 3 Examining the Maasai pastoralists’ satisfactions with the sources of information at Orkesumet Area in Simanjiro District. Maasai Pastoralists Defined Pastoralist are persons who are devoid of fixed residence or places of domicile who engage in continuous and purposeful movement searching for pastures and water for their livestock (Ezeomah, 1990). Maasai pastoralists are groups of Nilotic who lives in both Tanzania and Kenya who are always and perpetually on the move with their livestock , primarily in search of animal