Scope, constraints and empirical field reflections

This study was conducted in the year 2012 but the income data gathered was based on the previous year of the research (2011). The study strategically covers the assessment of water resource management and its implication to livelihood situation limited to the local community of smallholders farmers in Kilombero rural areas. It is important to recall that the major theme of this study is about livelihood situations of smallholder farmers and water resource management, thus prior investigation was focused on the livelihood earnings obtained from water related activities (irrigation activities). Other livelihood activities were partially investigated in order to aggregate the total amount of households’ incomes. River basin management perspective is addressed by referring to the available data found during fieldwork and other publications.

This research is presenting the finding analysis by making comparisons within various distinct variables. The variables include, household rice total income, household total incomes, households’ wealth groups and water dependence resulted from diverse activities (powered by assets endowed) pursued by individuals and households in the case study area (Msolwa A and Mkula villages). Initially, this study planned to conduct the research by comparing water management between two improved irrigation schemes situated at each village based on the information I received prior to the site visitation. After visiting the site, I found one improved irrigation scheme and one traditional irrigation scheme exist in the case study area. Both improved and traditional irrigation scheme are situated at Mkula village. At Msolwa A village, only rain-fed agriculture is practiced. Village officials reported that the existing irrigation infrastructure has been abandoned since 1979 when Chinese moved from the area and since then it has never operated.

Fieldwork was conducted from mid-September to mid-November 2012. Before starting fieldwork I consulted key persons at Sokoine University of Agriculture, from EPINAV project team, Prof. Vedasto Muhikambele, Prof. George Kajembe, Dr. Gimbage Mbeyale, Dr. Josiah Katani, Dr. Japheth Kashaigili and Devotha Mosha. They both at their own time assisted to comment on the research proposal and other field related ideas which helped to clarify some missing links regarding fieldwork. They also introduced me to gate keeps at Kilombero district to validate my research permit.

I completed all necessary procedures for obtaining research permit at the district headquarter at Kibaoni area, Ifakara town. We had self-introduction (me and my research assistant Mr.

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Nzunda Mawazo from SUA) to the village officials. I also presented the major purposes of my visitation. We were welcomed by village officials at both villages.

The fieldwork was challenging at first few days, because it was my first time experience, but as the time passed by I mastered it better. The PRA went very well except to some few occasions where people felt like they have been spied. Others were having opinions that I was doing political work, campaigning for political posts at their areas. Others contested that we were there to acquire our own goals and nothing we can do to improve their livelihoods. Others expected to receive financial support from us especially during field visitation of Professor Paul Vedeld.

The survey was also gone very well. I have being conducting interviews by paying a visit to the respective respondents’ houses. In some few cases I spent longer time at a single household exceeding the time planned. I sometimes required to break at the middle of the interview to give them time to attend some home activities (unexpected) and come back to continue. I administered seven households per day as maximum and two households per day as minimum. Being at their homes give me a chance to observe life situations around.

Another challenge was the readiness of the respondents to disclose their full income data. It was not an easy task for them to release directly information about their income sources. They were attempting to avoid sharing information about their incomes. I overcome this by not rushing to ask about income unless I observed it was the right time to do so. My fluency in Swahili language assisted to bridge the communication gap, and with no third part involvement during the interview the situation becomes better. The case of means and time was another straight forward issue when spending three months at the fieldwork.

Getting hold of people from RBWO at Ifakara, District Irrigation Engineer office and other officials was difficult. I attempted several times, and one time I was lucky to have an appointment with District Irrigation Engineer and RBWO official. I had a successful and sound interview with District Irrigation Engineer. I had a very limited time with the RBWO officer, he had a very busy schedule, and I didn’t explore fully what I wanted.

During my fieldwork I spent some times in social gatherings to esteem values and customs of people of that area. I participated in two funeral ceremonies followed the occurrence of sudden death of village members. I also invited in the graduation ceremony of standard seven

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at Mkula village. The occurrences of those incidences solidified the relationship with my hosts.

Another experience which is important to mention here is the way I facilitated sound relationship with people around. I respected them by showing concerns on their values and instincts (time, social status, age status, gender, equity and others). I was sometimes compensating their time spent with me. I provided material things like soda, cookies, candies, sugar, air time for their mobile phones, piece of soap and similar items in small portions. I knew it was very little but it was appreciated by the recipients.

I managed to collect all data by myself that experience cheered me up. My research assistant left the field after one week because of other commitments. Before his departure he provided enormous contribution, thus he was already familiar with the field environment because of several visitations before. He assisted to find the accessible accommodation, contacts facilitation to some few key persons at the district office and at the villages. He also assisted to record data on the week we spent at the field together.

I have leant from the experience that it is important to prepare daily reports and progress report during fieldwork. I didn’t fully equip to do that. I didn’t updated my daily reports on regular bases, now time is consumed attempting to memorize and match the occasions. If I could prepared my daily reports and progress report on a regular basis I could have saved time. I am looking forward to administer that on my next fieldwork.