A collaborative project between China and Tanzania is making significant strides in improving the water and air quality in the near-lake areas of Lake Victoria, a vital freshwater resource facing environmental challenges.

Recently, a project team led Dr. XIONG Chuanhe from Nanjing Institute of Geography & Limnology (NIGLAS) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) conducted a 10-day on-site investigation in the Mwanza Lake Bay area of Lake Victoria.

The Sino-Tanzanian cooperation project is a part of the International Partnership Program of CAS, dedicated to addressing the issues and improving the water and air environment in the near-lake area.

A key issue addressed by the initiative is the severe eutrophication affecting some bays of Lake Victoria. This phenomenon is largely driven by nitrogen (N) discharge from agricultural activities in the lake's surrounding regions, with farmers' practices directly influencing these nutrient loads.

The project team conducted in-depth investigations in three villages within the Mwanza Lake Bay area: Sweya, Kisoko, and Kigoto. Through consultations with village leaders, review of production records, and on-site estimations, the team examined land use patterns and input-output conditions.

During these field visits, researchers also engaged with farmers through interviews and questionnaires. This allowed for a comprehensive understanding of household characteristics, primary agricultural practices, farmers' awareness of agricultural non-point source pollution, and their capacity to manage such pollution.

The project has successfully identified the primary farming behaviors in the Lake Victoria Basin that contribute to nitrogen discharge in the area, and their impact. It has also shed light on the specific ways in which farmers' capabilities and understanding influence their decision-making regarding these nitrogen-discharging farming practices.

According to Dr. XIONG, the research on nitrogen discharge will, economically, help improve water and air quality in surrounding regions, bolstering agricultural productivity and supporting the livelihoods of local farmers. And socially, the project is fostering capacity-building for environmental protection and sustainable development across Africa.