Climate Change and Crop Pests-Insects Trends in Chickpea (Cicer Arietinum L) Farming in Tanzania

Abstract

Climate change is increasingly affecting agriculture through altered rainfall patterns, rising temperature, and prolonged droughts, which in turn intensify pest and disease pressures on crops. This study examined the influence of climate change on insect pests and fungal disease incidence on chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) farming in three major production areas of Tanzania (Bumbiti, Ipande, and Mwagwila). A mixed-methods design was used which combined household surveys (n = 267), field observations, and meteorological data analysis from 1995–2024. Farmers consistently reported rising temperature, shorter and less reliable rainy seasons, and frequent droughts. Statistical analysis revealed significant positive correlations between increasing temperature and pest incidence (r = 0.72–0.88, P < 0.001) as well as between drought conditions and pest outbreaks. The most common insect pests identified were armyworm (Spodoptera exigua), semilooper (Autographa nigrisigna), and cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon), while fungal diseases included Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum) and dry root rot (Rhizoctonia bataticola). Adaptation strategies adopted by farmers included early sowing, use of improved and early-maturing varieties, application of insecticides, and improved field management. Findings demonstrate that climate variability is exacerbating pest and disease risks in chickpea production, threatening smallholder livelihoods. Strengthened integrated pest management, climate-resilient varieties, and farmer support systems are urgently needed to sustain production under changing climatic conditions.