South Kilimanjaro: Conclusions

In the past two decades the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro have undergone numerous economic
changes that have led to a generation of absentee farmers. In turn these changes and the
growth of the number of absentee farmers have influenced farm management and biodiversity
of the region. As a whole most absentee farmers are of working age and are primary school
graduates.

The majority of absentee farmers originate in areas with poor land management coupled with
land degradation and loss of biodiversity. Only 16% currently reside within the region and
21.4% reside in neighbouring regions. The remaining 59% of the absentee farmers reside in
areas where they cannot easily manage their farms and hence cannot easily influence the
farm's biodiversity or land management.

In terms of occupation most absentee farmers have adopted different activities from farming
in their destination areas, which may lead to them having less interest in farming their home
farm. Only a small proportion of absentee farmers are still engaged in farming (11.7%) with
the majority being engaged in formal or informal business. Due to the current retrenchment
programmes being undertaken in the country, few are employed in managerial and
administrative occupations (6.6%), or as clerical/teachers (18.8%). Some are employed as
casual labourers (7.1%) and as craftsmen/technicians (13%). The common supplementary
occupations at the area of destination are farming/livestock keeping or business, and as such
hinder investment at the place of origin.

Most farms of absentee farmers are being maintained by relatives (42.2%) or by wives and
children (26%). However, discussions with the people revealed that the relatives caring for
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the farms are usually elderly parents who have little energy to care for both their farms and
those of absentee farmers. Only 16.9% of the farms of absentee farmers are cared for by
labourers.

The major types of crops grown by absentee farmers include perennial crops such as coffee
and bananas that require few visits to the farm. The low rate of adoption of soil conservation
in the region has also encouraged land degradation. Most of the land of absentee farmers has
been obtained through traditional inheritance. Traditional inheritance practices, in which all
sons inherit land even if they have been educated and which has led to the severe parcelling of
land, has contributed to the development of the generation of absentee farmers. Another factor
that has encouraged the departure of farmers is the small size of the farms. When farmers
realize that they cannot make ends meet, they migrate to other regions.