Dynamics of Indigenous Rice Cultivation in the Kilombero Valley, Tanzania

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  • タンザニア・キロンベロ谷における在来稲作の展開
  • タンザニア ・ キロンベロダニ ニ オケル ザイライ イナサク ノ テンカイ

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Abstract

The Kilombero valley is an inland flood plain located in the southern half of Tanzania. It covers an area of about 11,600 km2 (including marginal hills). People have used wetlands for rice cultivation and have converted this region into a major rice production area. Based on the physiographical and ecological structure, in the present study, the Kilombero valley was classified into four subdivisions: the flood plain zone, alluvial fan zone, flood savanna zone, and mountainous zone. In addition, the alluvial fan zone was further classified into six agroecological zones: alluvial fan extension, sheet flood area, spring water area, seasonal swamp, seasonal river bed, and surface water grassland. Under such diverse ecological conditions, farmers cultivate rice in various ways using indigenous technologies: in the flood plain zone, they cultivate deep-water rice; in the alluvial fan zone, the timing of seeding is determined carefully, as rice cultivation is highly dependent on flooding levels; in both the surface water grassland and flood savanna zones, paddy fields are surrounded by ridges for water harvesting, while in the mountainous zone, upland rice is cultivated. Such indigenous knowledge of ecosystems, in particular the hydrogeological peculiarities of each ecosystem, contribute to the stability of rice production in this area.

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