THE ROLE OF LOCAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF AGRO- PASTORAL AND PASTORAL SYSTEMS: A CASE STUDY OF MKATA PLAINS, KILOSA DISTRICT AND NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA, NGORONGORO DISTRICT, TANZANIA BY L. J. A. KISOZA A THESIS SUBMITTED IN FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY OF THE SOKOINE UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE 2007 ii ABSTRACT The pastoral areas of Tanzania have been experiencing increasing land-use pressure and out-migration of pastoralists to other areas. In some areas the immigrant pastoralists have been involved in resource-use conflicts; raising concern at various levels of governance. However, the underlying causes of resource-use conflicts are yet to be established. This study was conducted in Mkata plains and Ngorongoro Conservation Area in order to determine the role of local institutions in the management of common grazing lands. Specifically the study aimed at determining trends in land-use and resource tenure; establish strength of local institutions; determine factors determining resource-use conflicts in the study areas. The study indicated that the pastoral system in the study areas was shifting to agro-pastoralism, leading to high grazing intensities and rangeland deterioration. Local institutions were strong and plays central role in the management of communal grazing lands. Factors which significantly (p < 0.05) enhance local institutions include market integration, degradation of rangelands and local leadership. Livestock ownership and local autonomy are significant in Ngorongoro area; whereas, wealth differentiation significantly (p < 0.05) undermine local institutions in the study areas. Resource-use conflict in Mkata plains is mainly over crop damages by livestock. Conflicts in Ngorongoro area involve conservation authorities and local communities over expansion of cultivation. Factors significantly (p<0.05) escalating conflicts are wealthy heterogeneity and restrictive policies in Ngorongoro; and increasing herd size and commercialization in Mkata plains. Strong local leadership significantly (p<0.05) minimise conflicts in study areas, while livestock ownership and range deterioration minimises conflicts in Ngorongoro area Local mechanisms for resolving resource-use conflicts include “conflict resolution committees” in Mkata plains; and benefit sharing between the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority and local communities The study proposes a cross-linkage institutional framework for iii management of communal grazing lands. The main conclusion of this study is that local institutions have persisted and plays a central role in governance of common grazing lands. It is recommended to establish secure tenure ship of grazing lands for different pastoral groups and establishing of sustainable carrying capacities and grazing systems in study areas. iv DECLARATION I, KISOZA, LWEKAZA JAMES ANDREA, do hereby declare to the Senate of the Sokoine University of Agriculture that this thesis is a result of my original work and has never been submitted for a degree award at any other University Signature…………………………………… Date……………………………………….. v SUPERVISORS’ CERTIFICATION I certify that I have read this thesis and that in my opinion it is adequate in scope and quality, as a thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Signed……………………………. Date…………………… Professor G. C. Kajembe (Main Supervisor) Signed……………………………..Date……………………… Professor G. C. Monela (Co- Supervisor) vi COPY RIGHT All rights reserved. No part of this thesis may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the permission of the author or the Sokoine University of Agriculture in that behalf. vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT In pursuit of this work a number of people, institutes and government departments were of great assistance in different capacities. It is not possible to mention each one by name, but I wish to express my sincere gratitude to them all. For special thanks however I must single out the following persons. My supervisors Professor G.C. Kajembe and Professor G.C. Monela deserve special gratitude first for accepting me as their student and for their intellectual stimulation, professional guidance, critical comments, encouragement and sincere interest in this study from its formulation to its completion. A special mention is due to Professor G. C. Kajembe the main supervisor, for introducing me to the subject of institutions, his devotion for this work, inspirations and financial support during preparation of research proposal and early stages of data collection is highly appreciated. Professor Elinor Ostrom of Indiana University, USA agreed to serve as an external supervisor; her contribution during the initial stage of this work is highly appreciated. I wish to extend grateful acknowledgement to Professors R. C. Ishengoma, and G. C. Monela, who served as Faculty Deans during my study period, and Head of Department Professor G. C. Kajembe, for administrative support. All other staff members of the Department of Forest Mensuration and Management are acknowledged for their cooperation and moral support. A special mention is due to the staff of the Remote Sensing and GIS laboratory for their tireless assistance in processing the remote sensing imagery. Dr. B.P. Mbilinyi, is acknowledged for his advice on remote sensing analysis; Mr. Rudovic Kashaga assisted me in processing the satellite imageries. I would also like to gratefully acknowledge the staff of the Institute of Resource Assessment and the Department of Geography at the University of Dar - Es – Salaam who provided me with training on remote sensing and GIS. viii Dr. Jean Nduwamungu read and critically commented on draft manuscripts of this thesis; his contribution immensely improved my work. Professors M. Shem, and Dr Mtengeti as well as the late Professor A, Oking’ati shared with me many ideas and their academic insights and constructive criticisms were very helpful. I am very grateful to them all. During the field work a number of people and government departments provided me with logistical support. Various government offices at National level, Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Kilosa district facilitated data collection, all of them deserve special mention. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism provided me with a clearance tory out a research in Ngorongoro area. My sincere appreciation is due to Mr. Chausi, E. the Chief Conservator, Ngorongoro Conservation Area for granting me a resident permit and permission to conduct research in the area. His logistic support and insights on pastoralists of Ngorongoro improved immensely my study. I am deeply grateful to Mr. Victor Runyoro, the Principal Ecologist at Ngorongoro Conservation Area and a fellow PhD student for his moral and logistic support during my stay in Ngorongoro area. We shared intense discussions and I benefited immensely from his rich knowledge of the socio- economic setting and ecology of Ngorongoro area. I would like to extend my gratitude to my field assistants in Kilosa and Ngorongoro area who served as guides, enumerators and translators. Messers: Jokka, Gawe, Salamba in Kilosa: and Messers: Swedi, Matei and Tegemea in Ngorongoro area helped me to conduct interviews and range surveys - their help to me is sincerely acknowledged. A special mention is due to farmers, herders, local leaders and government agents who devoted their time to respond to continuous interviews and allowed me to pry into their privacy. Their cooperation shall always be remembered. ix I remain deeply indebted to the Open University of Tanzania for sponsoring me and for granting me study leave to undertake the study programme. A special mention is due to Professor C. Mmari, Professor D. Komba, and Professor U. Minga for their empathy, encouragement and sincere interest in this study. Moral and practical support extended to me by the Open University staff is highly appreciated. I would like to express my sincere acknowledgement to staff and administration of LITI – Morogoro for their moral and practical support. A special mention is due to the Principals of Livestock Training Institute (LITI), Morogoro: Mr. E. Kapinga and later Mrs N.N. Mtenga who generously provided me with accommodation and access to institute facilities and transport during the entire period of my study. Finally I want to make a special note to my wife Praxeda and our wonderful children; Alinda, Wendy, Imani and Nuru, who had to tolerate my long absence from home for several years. Without their understanding, unfailing support, patience and above all their players and love, I could never have found courage and energy to complete this task. To all these and organisations, I am deeply thankful. My sincere hope is that this work can be practically applicable in connection to improvement of pastoral and agro-pastoral resources in arid areas and minimize resource-use conflicts. The significance and generous contributions of all people mentioned above notwithstanding, the final responsibility for this work rests on me. x DEDICATION This work is dedicated to my wife Praxeda and our children, who beared the consequences but remained my unfaltering source of inspiration and encouragement. To Almighty God for his blessings; and for giving me mental, moral and physical strength to accomplish this important endeavour. xi TABLE OF CONTETS ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………………………………ii DECLARATION ..................................................................................................................