**2. Methodology**

#### **2.1 The study area**

The study was carried in Chololo village (**Figure 1**) located in Dodoma City one of the semi-arid areas in Tanzania. Dodoma is located at Coordinates 6°57′ and 3°82' South of the Equator and between longitudes 36°26′ and 35°26′ East of Greenwich in the center of Tanzania. Chololo village has six sub-administrative villages, namely Kawawa, Lusinde, Jamhuri, Muungano, Siasa and Kizota. According to the United Republic of Tanzania 2012 census, Chololo village had 1111 households [13]. The site was previously characterized with vulnerable and deprived farming families dominated by the Gogo ethnic group, predominantly engaged with rain-fed agriculture and subsistence farming. Semi-arid areas is one of the agro-ecological zones of Tanzania distinguished by the low to medium undulating plains (200–1,500 m asl)

*Role of Eco-Village Initiatives in Mitigating Desertification in Semi-Arid Areas of Tanzania DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.98719*

**Figure 1.** *Map of the study area.*

with rocky hills and low scarps in central and south-eastern areas, with soils of variable fertility, localized salinity and hard-pan problems, and unreliable unimodal rainfall (500–800 mm per year) [14].

### **2.2 Data collection methods and analysis**

Mixed research methods – household survey, key informant interviews, Focus group discussion, physical visits and documentary review were used in the study. Household Survey involved collection of both qualitative and quantitative data using a pre-designed household questionnaire. Key informant interviews involving village officials and village subject matter specialists were also planned. FGDs involving the elderly, youths and females were also held. Other methods were physical visits so as to assess the situation on the ground in crop farming, livestock, water resources, and forestry sectors and documentary reviews for the purpose of supplementing the collected field data.

The study employed both probability and non-probability sampling. Purposive sampling was used in selecting household heads, key informants, and focus group discussions participants. Purposive sampling is mostly applicable in qualitative research in which the representative population is identified and selected to provide rich information using limited resources [15]. In addition, it is useful in identifying and selecting the knowledge rich and experienced individuals regarding the phenomenon of interest [15], Simple random sampling using standard procedures was adopted in selecting two village hamlets (Kawawa and Siasa) out of four (Lusinde, Kawawa, Jamhuri and Kizota). Simple random sampling design renders equal chance of individuals in being picked up to form a sample; it is bias-free, time-efficient and cost effective; and data from this design can easily be analyzed and it is possible to generalize the results [16]. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and content analysis were used in analyzing quantitative and qualitative data respectively.
