Abstract:
This study investigated the impact of migrant livestock keepers on the natives and natural resources of Kilombero valley. Both descriptive and exploratory designs involving the use of various data collection methods such as questionnaires and interviews were used to collect data. The study also used documentary review to collect secondary data from various report concerning migrant livestock keepers. Data were analysed by Microsoft excel and Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 16.
The study revealed that migration of livestock keepers to the study area had both positive and negative impacts. As the results of migrant livestock keepers, agricultural activities, trade and animal keeping have increased in the area. On the other hand, activities such as fishing and hunting activities have decreased. The study revealed that migrant livestock keepers have caused small changes in cultural elements of the natives. It was established that migrants have brought a great changes in natives’ ways of perfuming works, marriage matters as well as food and eating behaviour. Other cultural elements were found not to be affected much. The study further showed that migrant livestock keepers used natural resources of the study area to large extent. Resources such as water, wetland, natural vegetation and land/space for carrying out human development activities were reported to decrease. The findings showed that natives have used land use plans, eviction, use of village security guards “sungu sungu”, and use of by - laws among other strategies to protect natives culture and natural resources from being engulfed by the migrant livestock keepers. But strategies used were reported to have done little work compared to the expectations.
The study concluded that natural resources were mostly affected by migrant livestock keepers activities compared to the native activities and culture. It was recommended that co - existence approach between agriculturalist and pastoralist and cooperation between different government departments, local authorities and the general local community need be adopted for the sustainable management of the natural resources in Kilombero valley
