Interviewer(s): I007
Interviewee(s): KI055

I007: My name is Akwilina and today is 27 September 2017 and I will have the interview with the village chairperson… Mr. Chairman I would like to discuss with you again although we had a conversation last time in February but it is not bad if we can chat a bit more as this round is the continuation of the previous round and we are here for other information so I would like to know for how long have you been living in this village.

KI055: Thank you so much and by name I am KI055 and I am the chairman of this village. I was born in this village from 1953.

I007: Thank you Mr. Chairman we have seen that you were born here and how did it happen that you become the chairman of this village.

KI055: Aaah this village was divided into two from Misima village to Kibaya since 1999 and I have become the chairman from 1999 to now although there was a time when I was not a chairman for five years but approximately I have fifteen years in this position.

I007: Aah so you have fifteen years of becoming a chairman in this village…

KI055: Yes

I007: Okay… Now we would like to know since the last time we have been here on February what major changes have you observed in this community.

KI055: Mmh which changes… is it economical or?

I007: Yes economic changes like household economic status if it has increased or decreased or any other change that you have observed

KI055: Ooh okay… since the last time, it is true that their some household economic changes…. And what made the changes is because every household is involved in the agriculture activities which brought by the increase of interaction of tribes. People now are intercropping while before we grew only one crop and through these changes you can find that a person had crops for business which improves his income status.

I007: Mmh… since February until now it almost seven month are there any economic changes did you observe?

KI055: Eeh yes… nowadays people have change their eating habits, they are eating different type of vegetables, also they are changing their household structure from mud houses with grass to improved houses with mud bricks and iron sheets

I007: Mmh… since you have been in this village let’s talk about income ratio between households, how does the ratio of low income and high income people differ

KI055: Aah…. Low income people nowadays are decreasing to middle income.

I007: Mmh

KI055: To tell the truth low income people have decreased to very small percent nowadays.

I007: Ok, Like what percent can you rate them?

KI055: It almost 40% and about 60% are middle and high income people

I007: How many percent can you give to high income people?

KI055: It almost 80%

I007: 80% can be high income people?

KI055: Yes… because most of the people have advanced, they are now building good houses

I007: Aright so Mr. chairman if we say we want to catergorise your community here, how would you divide them starting with low income then middle and last high income people?

KI055: For my perception the low income people are almost 30%, 60% for middle class and 80% for high class people.

I007: Okay…so Mr. Chairman when we compare between the past and currently, how can you categorize your people… as you have said 30% is for low income people and 60% is for middle income people… what was the situation in the past?

KI055: Mmmh… during the past the situation was very worse than nowadays. When you look back in the past it was only 20% for middle and high income people, most of the people were very poor.

I007: Thank you, What made these changes as you have said the income rates of your people have increased?

KI055: First is due to the education which we provided to the people in our meetings and also most of the people learned from the foreigners as they came with nothing but they started some cultivation which made them earn income for building their houses, apart from that nowadays people are involved in crop business which made most of the people to earn income hence changes their lifestyles.

I007: Thank you…. So what are other changes have you observed apart from that?

KI055: Mmh…. May be we can talk about the business, and when I speak about business it is divided into two. Some are doing small business and some are doing bigger business, that is to say for small business includes vegetable venders and food venders but for big business involves livestock, people may take their livestock to Nderema market where they sell to the local communities as well as to the people outside Misima

I007: Mmmh… what other changes can you talk about?

KI055: Mmmh… another changes includes health and education, nowadays people are taking children to clinics for treatments and also schools.

I007: And what brought about these changes?

KI055: Mmh… these changes occurred due to education provided by expertise from different field, also advancement of education. In the past most of the people were not educated but nowadays some are having basic education which made things easier when you tell him/her about anything it easier for him/her to understand than in the past.

I007: Mmmh… you have talked about foreigners who made some changes in this village includes agriculture activities, can you tell me who are these people, where are they from and when did they start coming here?

KI055: These people came from Kilimanjaro, Arusha and Manyara, and they have started to come here since 2005 for land purchasing.

I007: Thank you…. So what kind of activities do these people do?

KI055: Their main activity is agriculture, but they also keep animals in minimal percentage because most of them do not have more than 20 cows

I007: And can you tell me which tribes do they belong?

KI055: Waarusha and Wambulu, they come from Kilimanjaro and Arusha

I007: Thank you… then I would like to know some positive and negative effects which is brought by these changes due to the immigration of people from different tribes

KI055: Lots has changed but in positive ways, due to them our businesses has improved as you might find a person purchasing food items which will take him/her throughout the week, hospital services and agriculture activities has also improved, some builds warehouse for crop storage, even education system has improved as most of children are going to school.

I007: Mmh… what other advantage can you add up?

KI055: Mmh… these people are good business men because they even brings their products to our homes so you might find most of our needs are available everywhere, also from them agriculture equipment’s has improved we are now having tractors for cultivation.

I007: How do these changes have effects on women, men and children?

KI055: Mmh so far these people rain peace in our community because intermarriages have been conducted, Zigua marry Waarusha, Waarusha marry Zigua, in the ceremonies they all participate

I007: Thank you…. Also I would like to know how does these changes brings some benefits in health and nutrition

KI055: As I said in the past we were not having different varieties of vegetables and fruits but nowadays we have a lot of them, which made people to improve their health. In the past we were not eating bananas as food but now we do and this knowledge has been copied from foreigners.

I007: Thank you Mr. Chairman… also I would like to know the major threats of food security in your community

KI055: The major threat of food security currently is maize business, most of people are selling maize while we depend on it as the major source of food, but you cannot forbid a person to sell his stock while he needs money to satisfy his other needs.

I007: eh

KI055: Mmh… drought, because in the past we were used to the heavy rain seasons but nowadays things have changed as the seasons has changed, people are preparing their farms for cultivation with the hope that the rain will come but if the rain will not come people will be affected.

I007: What about household food insecurity situation in the community?

KI055: For this year in my village we are not food insecure because most of people harvest in their maximums and we were also told to sell while keeping some for food

I007: How about the issue of marketing, you have said most of the people are selling crops, who do they sell to and where, also is that one of the threat in food security?

KI055: Middlemen are the one who purchase the food and take them to far areas but if the government might be the one to purchase the food they would have store them in the warehouse which could be purchased again with the villages during the difficult times but all are purchased by middlemen who are business men.

I007: What can you say about food security in relation to food preparation methods such as cooking?

KI055: Currently in our community firewood is a problem; most of the people are using charcoal for cooking which is also expensive

I007: How about water availability in relation to food security in this village

KI055: To tell the truth we have water but not safe water because we do not have secure wells, we are fetching water from local wells which are not protected.

I007: Mmmmh…. so do you think this situation of unsafe water can be cause any effect in food security like certain people fail to get enough food or suffer from hunger.

KI055: No. it does not have any relation

I007: Okay but you have said water is not safe for household consumption so what do people do to make it safe for household use.

KI055: Water is not safe and we have given education to people that before drinking water they have to boil it but you know people do not take the advice seriously as we all know that unprotected wells might have some contaminants inside such as insects also the water which is not flowing from the tap is not safe but people do not care much, we are also telling them to use water guard but still they are not using it.

I007: Is there any other challenge that you’re facing apart from unsafe water?

KI055: Yes there is… wells are so far and if you did not go to get water, you will have to buy it for 400/= per 20 litters of which is the challenge when you do not have it you will not eat, bathing and even drink.

I007: You have said most of the household are selling their crops after harvesting when depending on the heavy rain season and when there is no rain food becomes scarcity, so which measures do people takes against food insecurity

KI055: Nowadays people are producing cash crops so that they can sell to earn income while keeping maize for food. Sunflower and green gram are used for as cash crops also some are keeping chickens

I007: And how about pastoralist societies, which measures are they taking against food insecurity

KI055: Pastoralist societies are the most business men than other people in this community. They are keeping chickens and growing cash crops such as green grams, sunflower and cowpeas. You might find them though out the season they are taking different products to the markets and when they take for example chicken and fails to sell if their desired price they are willing to take the chicken back home waiting for the next market day.

I007: Mmh… how do they cope when there is food insecurity within the household so that all household members gets enough food?

KI055: When the situation becomes very difficult people goes for casual labors so as to earn income for household needs.

I007: Apart from casual labors what other work do people do to earn income?

KI055: There is no other work apart from that.

I007: What about selling of animals or sloughing them for food during food scarcity?

KI055: Mmh… To some people during food scarcity it is the time to sell their cattle but at that time those cattle do not have value but still people are selling them with the small price so as to earn income

I007: Mmmh… so how do household eating habits affected during these changes as we were told in February that due to drought food has become scarce?

KI055: Mmmh… eating habits has changed, during food scarcity people reduces their number of meals instead of three times they eats two or one times per day.

I007: And during that situation who are given first priority to consume food among the household members?

KI055: Children are given first priority while parents went to find something to eat letter on. For example a mother might say “children take this flour and prepare some porridge so you can drink while, her and the father are going for casual work in order to earn income.

I007: Thank you so much… in this community, which household or families’ do you think are the most affected with the food insecurity.

KI055: Families which are the most vulnerable with food insecurity are those who residing in the interior part of our village, you can say those who are living far from the essential needs because those who are living close to the village they are able to get their basic needs without any problems.

I007: Alright…. So who is the most vulnerable within the household between women, children, men and elders?

KI055: To tell the truth, fathers are the most vulnerable ones because they are the once who brings food on the table and when the situation becomes worse they suffer more, that’s why you might find a person abandon his family

I007: And who else is vulnerable with the situation apart from the father

KI055: Mama, because she has to take all responsibilities during the time when baba abandon the family

I007: How about the elders and children?

KI055: Children will be affected as we have discussed but elders who are weak will also be affected as they depends on their children who now are struggling to put food on the table

I007: Thank you Mr. Chairman, with your perception what should be done to reduce the situation of food insecurity in your community.

KI055: I think extension officers should be very close to the people when educating them on the best methods for cultivation because there is a difference in yield between a person who is using local and a person who is using the improved methods such as use of tractors for digging and using of threads for seeding.

I007: What else should be done to improve the situation?

KI055: You people should come regularly and educate the society on best methods to store their crops for future use because when we leaders speak they will listen but some might not take into consideration than when visitors came and tell them.

I007: What else do you think should be done?

KI055: I think farmers may have to cultivate on time based on the seasons, because the delays might inhibit them from getting maximum productions.

I007: Please, tell me more on scarcity of water in relation to food scarcity?

KI055: Yes… it can be among the factors because of time consuming, at the time when a mother is supposed to go to the farm is the time when she has to fetch water for household use, thus reduces the time for farming and sometimes water might be very far to the extent that when she go there, she becomes so tired and fails to go to the farm afterwards hence affects the production systems

I007: Thank you so much for this information… but by the time we came here we found that people are saying food becomes scarce due to changes of climates, I would like to know when they talk about climatic changes what are they referring to?

KI055: They may refer to the changes of rain seasons, in this region we are normally expecting the rains to start on January, February and March. If the rain delays up to April, there is when we are saying there is changing of climate

I007: And when did these changes start?

KI055: Since 2004

I007: Since 2004?

KI055: Yes

I007: Okay… I would like to know your perception on this matter, what can you say are the causes of climatic changes?

KI055: I think climatic changes is caused by environmental pollution, as the expertise are saying due to environmental pollution which is associated to different activities in the world are the major key for climatic changes so you cannot really saying cutting down of one or two trees in our farms may cause the changing of climate; it is a worldwide problem

I007: Okay… you have said these climatic changes started since 2004, so within past five years back how can you describe these climatic changes.

KI055: During the past five years the situation was minimal, we were having moderate rains which is not so bad so we are just thinking may be things are starting falling to their place as before. The rains started on January as we used to have and people grow their crops and harvested as expected.

I007: Thank you. How about ten years back?

KI055: Mmh… ten years back the situation was not so good because there was limited rainfall so people were getting less food

I007: How about changes of weather patterns in this community?

KI055: Mmh… there were no problems

I007: How about availability of grazing areas?

KI055: Mmmh… in this village we are not having specific grazing areas, people are depending on their small areas which they have isolated for their cattle feeding of which it is not that enough to feed the cattle throughout the year. And due to agriculture education provided by the expertise, now people are aware that through agriculture they can earn income so most of them are using their isolated grazing areas for agriculture hence reduces animal feeds

I007: How about water availability; are there any changes for the past five to ten years?

KI055: Water availability is still the same as we are having wells and spring which never dry even when there is extreme drought.

I007: How about agriculture areas are there any changes, perhaps the land have decreased or increased?

KI055: To some extent some areas has decreased because some of the people sold to foreigners but even then they sold to them, the lands are still used for agriculture activities so you cannot really say there is decreasing of agriculture areas.

I007: Aaaah…. and how about cattle keeping activities, does the number of cattle decreased or increased?

KI055: The number of cattle has increased but sometimes people fail to manage them because of the scarcity of grazing areas so people are needed to reduce the number of their cattle based on the areas they own, the government advised pastoralists to reduce the number of cattle based to accommodate their land so as to avoid conflict between crop producers and pastoralist. That’s why they also said if people fail to do so they have to change from keeping local animals to improved ones so that they can practice zero grazing while producing enough milk and earning more income when selling as they are having 200 to 300kg per cow.

I007: Okey, How about movement of people to town and other places in search for jobs and employments?

KI055: Yes, there are some changes because of the increasing of families, you might find a family have ten children and they are living in the small area as we all know that land does not increase so the grown up children moved out in search of jobs to supports their families. To tell the truth in this community we currently experience a problem of population growth, many people from different areas are moving to this area which reduces our land

I007: Okay… And how do these changes affected food and milk availability?

KI055: It has some effects because nowadays the number of cattle has decreased because most of them have shifted to far areas permanently.

I007: And how about men and women’s roles and responsibilities within the households, are they affected by these changes?

KI055: Yes they have some impacts because some of the families are depending on milk and due to the shifting of cattle, these families suffered. Especially children who are used to milk they are affected health wise.

I007: How about during the shifting of cattle, those who moved with the cattle and those who are remaining at home, are they affected?

KI055: Yes they are, especially for those who are moved with the cattle they are suffering because they are shifting to temporary places where they are building small hats with less security also those who remained at home also may suffer with poor security because men are not at home.

I007: Ah… So how do all these changes associate with conflicts?

KI055: The climatic changes have caused the reduction of number of cattle which reduces some conflicts between farmers and pastoralist because animals are not grazed in crop farms anymore.

I007: And how do people cope with the situation that milk availability is deteriorating?

KI055: Most of the people are buying from their neighbors because not all cows are shifted, some remains at home that is why during these moments the price of milk goes up

I007: Thank you. We have talked about different activities which are conducted by people to cope with the situation of food insecurity including shifting of people to town in search of jobs, business,… now I would like to know what are the other activities which are practiced within the community that helps people to earn income to cope with food insecurity.

KI055: There are different activities which people are doing apart from those which I have mentioned such as local house constructers this is more common to youth males, tailoring is for youth females while other people involve themselves in (VIKOBA - credit groups)

I007: Based on your perception what other factors which caused the changes of people’s lifestyle apart from changes of climate, immigration of people from different areas?

KI055: I think provision of education, different expertise are coming and providing small seminars which helped a lot to change people’s behaviors

I007: I would also like to know your opinions about roles and responsibilities of women in this community because lots have been said that nowadays women roles have changed due to different factors.

KI055: Yes it is true that nowadays women’s role and responsibilities has changed because most of them are free to do different productive works while in the past there were not given that opportunity by their husbands also due to education which are provided by different expertise

I007: Okay what is the really cause of these changes?

KI055: The really cause of these changes is the education which are provided by different expertise from the government and NGO’s.

I007: In your opinion do you think there are some positive or negative effects in the changes of roles and responsibilities of women within the household?

KI055: I think there are no negative effects because due to the women’s insolvents in productive work some of the children’s school fees are paid by women also the household income has increased from low to middle class

I007: Thank you so much Mr. Chairman, we have talked about people’s migration and you told me different people from different tribes have moved here, so I would like to know if there are people from your community who moved to other places.

KI055: Yes… Zigua people have moved to Kilindi in search of agricultural areas and others moved to Kabuku in search of grazing areas.

I007: Is there any effects associated with the migration of people to different areas?

KI055: No because when people move out others move in so there are no effects

I007: Okay… are there any effects brought by mixing of culture as a result of people from different tribes moving to your place?

KI055: There are no effects but these people brought new ideas such as cooking methods, agriculture methods and business.

I007: How about those youth who migrate to other places in search of education, did they bring any changes in the community?

KI055: Yes they did because some of them are the ones who establish tuition centers and though that center most of children are benefited, failure in exams decreases. Also some of them came with new ideas such as different type of foods which we were not aware of, example consumption of raw carrots, cowpeas, sunflower oil

I007: Thank you. You have told me that due to the movement of people in and out the diet patterns have changed, I would like to know more on how are these diet changes.

KI055: There are some changes because in some tribes people were not eating together but due to these movement they are now eating together, also there are some people who were not eating certain type of food but now they do

I007: How about consumption of different type of food that men were supposed to eat certain food while children eats different foods

KI055: There some changes, example when both children and adult eating together this is sometimes a problem because children eats less than adults so at the end they will not be satisfied but when you separate the food each will be satisfied.

I007: How about changes in food preparation methods?

KI055: Yes there are some changes in food preparation, before the intermixing of culture some people were not cooking foods with different condiments such as sunflower oil, onions, and carrots but now they do.

I007: Thank you so much. We are left with few questions. Let’s talk about conflicts when exactly within a year is the period of high conflicts.

KI055: Mostly during the time of planting and harvesting but all are in control because we leaders are taking measures to stop them.

I007: Okay… what is the major reason for these conflicts?

KI055: Mmh low respect between farmers and pastoralist and mostly pastoralist are so proud of their cattle so they are not respecting farmers and once they made a mistake they are not apologizing to the farmers.

I007: Okay… so how do pastoralist being affected with these conflicts?

KI055: Once they are taken to the Court always the expenses increased so they have to sell their cattle to pay back the expenses to the farmer.

I007: How do these conflicts affects farmers.

KI055: They have some effects as I told you that when the farm is used for feeding cows the fertility decreased which made the farm to have poor nutrients once you come to cultivate latter you will not get the same production as before grazing the animals

I007: And how do these conflicts affects food availability within the household

KI055: Once the maize crops are consumed by cows, a person will not harvest anything so he/she will have some problems in putting food on the table for household consumption as the majority of us we are depending on agriculture to sustain own needs.

I007: How do people in this community settle these conflicts?

KI055: Mmh… We leaders are encouraging the community to solve the conflicts themselves before taking them to the government because when reported to the government leaders it becomes time consuming and costly.

I007: Thank you. I would like to know where you learn about health, food and nutrition issues for better health.

KI055: As I told you people learn these things though you SUA people when you come and conducted seminars also from the clinics where mothers go for children treatments

I007: Okay… what do you think is the benefits of these information which they obtain from the clinics and through seminars.

KI055: I think they are beneficial because through education people change their behaviors and I encourage them to continue providing these education for generation and generation.

I007: Mmh… what do you think should more of priority in the provision of these education

KI055: I think they should keep educating about child’s nutrition to prevent them from malnutrition, care for children and general hygiene

I007: Aaah… also I would like to know though this information provided in the clinics and seminars how does it help in changing household food consumption patterns and food preparations

KI055: They have helped because the majority of people are aware of the benefits of taking children to the clinics and which foods should be given to children for better health.

I007: Mmh… in your opinion what do you think are the benefits of this information

KI055: They are important because people are educated from it.

I007: In your opinion which method do you think is the best to deliver this knowledge to the community?

KI055: I think through seminars which are conducted by the NGO’s, government health sectors and other expertise.

I007: Okay… you have said the information about health, food and nutrition should be given through seminars which other method do you think can be used to deliver this knowledge.

KI055: Through pastors/religious leaders.

I007: How does this information reach all the people while there are some who are not going to the clinics and others do not know how to write and read?

KI055: As I said seminars should be conducted in the village to the women.

I007: Why do you suggest women how about men?

KI055: I said women because when women are educated the whole society is also educated, women are the once who cook and teach the children manners so they will pass the knowledge to the children

I007: How about provision of this knowledge to the schools and churches?

KI055: Mmh I think is also good because in schools children will take the knowledge home as well as in the churches.

I007: Thank you Mr. Chairman. I would also like to know the use of radios and televisions as source of information, do you think they will be useful to deliver these information to your people

KI055: Mmh… I think they are important but not very useful because we are not having televisions but if it will be possible to bring the information though cinemas, I think is a good idea because seeing is the best method of understanding than listening.

I007: Thank you so much Mr. Chairman we have reached the end of our discussion. I would like to invite you if you have any comments to support our study.

KI055: Thank you… I would like to encourage you to keep coming to educate your society and please you should take this information to the higher levels such as in the government so that they can help us to improve our community.

I007: Thank you…We will work on that. But I would like to know if you have anything concern in health, food and nutrition issues.

KI055: Mmmh I do not have much to say apart from insisting you to take this information to the next level.

I007: Okay. I appreciate your time and the responses during our discussion, Thank you