Sociocultural Mechanisms Concerning Cropping Systems in Mountain Agriculture: A Case Study of the Eastern Slopes of Tanzania’s Uluguru Mountains
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The work offers an interesting study on the social attitudes that determine the cropping system, and the local traditions, defined by the authors invisible social characteristics, governing management, ownership and access to the slope fields around the studied villages (Kibogwa village) in mountain areas of Tanzania.
In particular, beyond the classic agroclimatic relationships (altitude, agro-ecological conditions and crop cultivation), the authors aimed at understanding how sociocultural factors establish a given cropping system combination in this remote African setting. Observing the customs loyal to marriage systems used to maintain land holdings, authors could identify more than 800 maternal lineages in the Luguru village population.
The most valuable part of the work, is, in my opinion, linked to the peculiarities of the local communities analyzed and to the difficulty of collecting data integrating into the local culture in such extreme situations. Commendably, one of the authors spent a year in the area to collect information, administer questionnaires and understand the local culture.
Authors found that most of the target households in Kibogwa village cultivated three staple crops (maize, cassava, and rice) out of the nine types of staple food crops cultivated in the village. Moreover, they could establish that the residents maintain the cultivation system of the sloped fields under specific marital conditions and that the sloped fields are the centre of the production of the residents' three staple food crops.
About the methodology and structure of the study, despite the simplicity of techniques all looks fine. The geodata and techniques (quick bird and GPS images) used to locate villages, and their structure based on the location of individual homes (households) are sufficiently explained. The same can be said about the simple basic statistical methods of representing the results. They are sufficient in their simplicity.
Surely the authors got quite convincing outcomes. However, conclusions are In my opinion missing about how the system could be improved or made more effective (i.e. providing guidelines). It is a pity that after all the effort made to collect data and information in remote areas of Tanzania, the storytelling in some way might be likely to seem like a sequence of observations without inferences or deductions.
Looking at further aspects, I noticed that the reference list, with only 25 works, is rather scarce.
I spotted several typos, wordiness and grammars. Several passages might result hard to read to a knowledgeable audience. My advice to authors is to please consider proofreading removing all unnecessary words and splitting longer sentences.
Please find hereafter some samples, but there are many more:
Line 21 matrieal linadge ?
Line 36 what ODA means? please to avoid unexplained acronyms or jargons
Line 147 dairly life ? had mess ?
Line 148 agriculturel ?
Line 175-176 unclear, please rewrite
Line 352 place of bith ?
Table 4 characters are shifted.
Author Response
Pointing
Surely the authors got quite convincing outcomes. However, conclusions are In my opinion missing about how the system could be improved or made more effective (i.e. providing guidelines). It is a pity that after all the effort made to collect data and information in remote areas of Tanzania, the storytelling in some way might be likely to seem like a sequence of observations without inferences or deductions.
- Thank you for your helpful comments and suggestions. At the end of the conclusion, I have added the following text to provide ideas on improving the system.
The cropping system used to cultivate staple food crops on the mountain slopes in Kiboguwa is simple. Cultivation performed in the same cropping order as this survey site is common in other mountanous regions [30, 31]. This system seems easy to understand from the relationship between cultivation characteristics and ecological environment, which differs depending on altitude. However, this cropping system was established and maintained because of social factors such as marital structure, in addition to the customs of land tenure centered on maternal lineage. In addition, differences in clan types and households were found in how arable land is secured. Current agricultural technical assistance tends to focus on technology provision and development, and social factors tend to be analyzed mainly from an economic perspective to determine the content and method of assistance [32]. Rural economies and agriculture in developing countries that are not modernized are strongly influenced by cultural elements of the local communities. These communities are formed by social groups centered on undifferentiated kinships that are related by blood and are unique to the region [26]. Even for the purpose of improving household productivity and profitability, support should not be selected that creates disparities and conflicts and does not match the cultural elements unique to the target community [33, 34]. Researchers or practitioners engaged in agricultural technical assistance have an ethical responsibility as outsiders in a position that can bring about change in a community. We must recognize the possibilities and the need to develop a better understanding of the values and unique characteristics of these communities that require assistance [35, 36]. To that end, in addition to conducting a quantitative survey using questionnaires, we also collected qualitative information on local agriculture and society through the long-term stay survey method implemented in this study [37]. Furthermore, regarding the direction of assistance, researchers should strive to understand the region’s uniqueness as much as possible, and to provide support that raises the standard of living of the community without breaking the relationships and connections of farmers in the region [38].
Looking at further aspects, I noticed that the reference list, with only 25 works, is rather scarce.
Ａ．Thank you for pointing out this issue. We have added 13 references mainly in the introduction and conclusion to enhance the persuasiveness of the paper.
I spotted several typos, wordiness and grammars. Several passages might result hard to read to a knowledgeable audience. My advice to authors is to please consider proofreading removing all unnecessary words and splitting longer sentences.
Please find hereafter some samples, but there are many more:
Ａ．Thank you for this helpful comment. We have checked the entire manuscript for spelling and grammar mistakes, and shortened sentences where possible to improve clarity.
Reviewer 2 Report
The article is demanding well thought out, logically structured. need to correct some spelling mistake.
Author Response
Pointing
However, data analysis must be to explain how questionnaires were analysed.
- Thank you for this helpful suggestion. Statements about the wavy line, in addition to part of the methodology and how to obtain it, were revealed for all of the data. Please see the revised text below.
3.1.2. Identification of household head and household information
All houses in the four village wards were identified and numbered using QuickBird satellite images taken in February 2005 (Figure 3). Afterward, we walked through the village wards and recorded the location information of these houses using GPS. We also recorded the heads of each village ward, the name and birthplace of each head of household, spouse’s presence, spouse’s birthplace, and lot acquisition method. We interviewed and collected information on almost all houses in the four village wards to obtain all clan names represented in each village ward. In addition, at least two people, including each head of the four village wards, were asked to provide type of clan and birthplace for all members of their village ward. They were also asked to provide the clan name and birthplace of household heads and their wives for all households. The same surveys were conducted in 2005 and 2008. We also collected information on the clans of the heads of household and their spouses to cross-check the information.
In the village wards, a married couple and an unmarried family often live together in one house, and share in the production and consumption of food. In this paper, we consider everyone who lives in a given house to be a household.
3.1.3. Identification of households’ arable lands
In January 2007, we conducted a questionnaire with 80 households (out of 254) in four village wards: 17 households in Kiseneke, 23 in Changa, 18 in Mungi, and 22 in Ludewa. These village wards were selected due to their distance from the author’s homestay, and because it was difficult to gather information from the other three village wards. The questionnaire collected data about: 1) the location of the household’s arable land for maize, rice, and cassava cultivation, and 2) how each field was obtained. We visited each house and interviewed the head of household. In addition, for these 80 households, clan names and birthplaces of both household heads and their partners, who were also interviewed, were collected using the same questionnaire. These data were cross-checked against the information obtained by the survey mentioned in 3.1.2.
Moreover, figures 3, 4, and 5 must be provided in higher resolution and quality.
- Thank you for this helpful suggestion. The figure resolution and quality have been improved.
Finally, the conclusion should provide some guidelines for further studies.
- Thank you for your helpful comments and suggestions. At the end of the conclusion, I have added the following text to provide ideas on improving the system.
The cropping system used to cultivate the staple food crops on the mountain slopes in Kiboguwa is simple. Cultivation performed in the same cropping order as this survey site is common in all surrounding regions [30,31], so the cropping system is not established. The system seems easy to understand from the relationship between cultivation characteristics and ecological environment, which differs depending on altitude. However, this cropping system was established and maintained because of social factors such as marital structure, in addition to the customs of land tenure centered on maternal lineage. In addition, differences in clan types and households were found in how arable land is secured. Current agricultural technical assistance tends to focus on technology provision and development, and social factors tend to be analyzed mainly from an economic perspective to determine the content and method of assistance [32]. Rural economies and agriculture in developing countries that are not modernized are strongly influenced by cultural elements of the local communities. These communities are formed by social groups centered on undifferentiated kinships that are related by blood and are unique to the region [26]. Even for the purpose of improving household productivity and profitability, support should not be selected that creates disparities and conflicts and does not match the cultural elements unique to the target community [33,34]. Researchers or practitioners engaged in agricultural technical assistance have an ethical responsibility as outsiders in a position that can bring about change in a community. We must recognize the possibilities and the need to develop a better understanding of the values and unique characteristics of these communities that require assistance [35,36]. To that end, in addition to conducting a quantitative survey using questionnaires, we also collected qualitative information on local agriculture and society through the long-term stay survey method implemented in this study [37]. Furthermore, regarding the direction of assistance, researchers should strive to understand the region’s uniqueness as much as possible, and to provide support that raises the standard of living of the community without breaking the relationships and connections of farmers in the region [38].
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 3 Report
Dear Authors,
The paper presents an interesting research topic, particularly for the investigated area. Data collection were very well done and a big effort was made to collect lots of data and information in remote areas of Tanzania. However, data analysis must be to explain how questionnaires were analysed. Moreover, figures 3, 4, and 5 must be provided in higher resolution and quality. Finally, the conclusion should provide some guidelines for further studies.
Author Response
Pointing out
Moreover, figures 3, 4, and 5 must be provided in higher resolution and quality.
- Thank you for this helpful suggestion. The figure resolution and quality have been improved.
Finally, the conclusion should provide some guidelines for further studies.
- Thank you for your helpful comments and suggestions. At the end of the conclusion, I have added the following text to provide ideas on improving the system.
The cropping system used to cultivate the staple food crops on the mountain slopes in Kiboguwa is simple. Cultivation performed in the same cropping order as this survey site is common in all surrounding regions [30,31], so the cropping system is not established. The system seems easy to understand from the relationship between cultivation characteristics and ecological environment, which differs depending on altitude. However, this cropping system was established and maintained because of social factors such as marital structure, in addition to the customs of land tenure centered on maternal lineage. In addition, differences in clan types and households were found in how arable land is secured. Current agricultural technical assistance tends to focus on technology provision and development, and social factors tend to be analyzed mainly from an economic perspective to determine the content and method of assistance [32]. Rural economies and agriculture in developing countries that are not modernized are strongly influenced by cultural elements of the local communities. These communities are formed by social groups centered on undifferentiated kinships that are related by blood and are unique to the region [26]. Even for the purpose of improving household productivity and profitability, support should not be selected that creates disparities and conflicts and does not match the cultural elements unique to the target community [33,34]. Researchers or practitioners engaged in agricultural technical assistance have an ethical responsibility as outsiders in a position that can bring about change in a community. We must recognize the possibilities and the need to develop a better understanding of the values and unique characteristics of these communities that require assistance [35,36]. To that end, in addition to conducting a quantitative survey using questionnaires, we also collected qualitative information on local agriculture and society through the long-term stay survey method implemented in this study [37]. Furthermore, regarding the direction of assistance, researchers should strive to understand the region’s uniqueness as much as possible, and to provide support that raises the standard of living of the community without breaking the relationships and connections of farmers in the region [38].
Round 2
Reviewer 3 Report
Dear Authors,
The revised version of the manuscript you re-submitted to Agriculture, satisfactorily responded to the majority of the comments, greatly improved the quality of the manuscript. However, I would suggest that details about survey analyses must be described in the text.
Author Response
Pointing out
The revised version of the manuscript you re-submitted to Agriculture, satisfactorily responded to the majority of the comments, greatly improved the quality of the manuscript. However, I would suggest that details about survey analyses must be described in the text.
A
Thank you for suggesting that we include the survey analysis details. I did not mention the method for creating the map of cultivated land distribution for each clan (Fig. 4), so I added the following description. I think you can understand how the other results were obtained based on the description.
“We aggregated the place names of the cultivated land and specified their locations in the satellite image in order to create a map of the place names. We asked a few informants in each village to plot the place name on the satellite image while checking the location indicated by that place name. When we could not determine the location of a place, we used GPS and went directly to the site to identify the location. Following this process, the arable lands cultivated by the 80 households investigated in 3.1.3 were plotted on the map based on the place names. In addition, a diagram showing the distribution of the cultivated land for each clan was created using questionnaire data.”
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
