PASTORALISM IN TANZANIA:

Making an Economic Case within the context of Kilimo

KwanzaAlais Ole-Morindat

Pastoral Programme EA

Alais Ole-Morindat

The Livestock Herd – Key Asset

The Pillars of Pastoralism

Natural Resources

The Herd The Family & Wider Social Institutions

PHOTO: Kelley Lynch

Pastoralism driver of economic prosperity in Africa’s drylands

Introduction

In Tanzania & EA decision makers believe pastoralism to be an archaic, economically inefficient and environmentally destructive form of land use.

Pastoralists are viewed as backward, resistant to change and inherently violent, willfully refusing the benefits of modernization

Introduction

deep-seated perceptions have a direct impact on policy justifying either alienation of pastoral land or measures to turn pastoralists into modern livestock keepers.

this perpetuates a vicious cycle: increasing poverty, resource conflict and environmental degradation, thereby reinforcing the very perceptions surrounding pastoralism as a livelihood.

Introduction

This not only deprives pastoralists of their rights of self determination, but it also represents a missed opportunity to capitalize on the significant economic potential pastoralism offers in arid and semi arid areas of Tanzania in a context of increasing climatic variations.

POVERTY AS A PROBLEM

The biggest challenge facing Tanzania today is how to move from a rural based economy to a more modern & competitive economy in line with: VISION 2025 also MKUKUTA & KILIMO KWANZA

Sectoral Policies – i.e. Agriculture. Livestock, health, education etc. – and ongoing reform processes (i.e. decentralisation) are critical if we are to succeed.

Opportunities

One of the huge opportunities is Livestock: TZ has 18.5 million cattle 13.1 Million goats 3.6 million sheep 60 out of a total of 94 million hectares are

rangelands. Over 90% of the livestock population is of

indigenous types, having low genetic potential but well adapted to harsh environmental conditions and highly resistant to diseases.

THE TWO PRODUCTION SYSTEMS Tanzania has two major production systems

namely extensive and intensive. The intensive system, which is limited in size,

has been receiving most emphasis in investment and improvement.

The extensive system, which is mostly led by pastoralist & agro-pastoralism, is neglected.

This is a missed opportunity as demands for meat (research shows) is on the increase.

Recent ResearchLivestock to agric GDP: Kenya 50%, Tanzania 30%; Uganda 1

% of national herd indigenous: Kenya 75%, Tanzania 97%; Uganda 95%

Export hides US$ million in 2000Kenya 0.11m, Tanzania 5.68m, Uganda 12.89m

Beef production tonnes 2000Kenya 290,000, Tanzania 181,000

Contribution livestock to national economies

  Ethiopia Kenya Tanzania Uganda

Agric. GDP 45% 42-50% 30% 19%

Overall GDP 20% 10% 6.1% 7.5%

Export hides/skins in millions of $

$41 (1998)

$0.11(2000)

$5.68(2000)

$12.89(2000)

Beef production in metric tonnes (2000)

298,000 290,000 to

320,000 

181,000 to

360,000

292,800

Government expenditure on agriculture(on livestock)

5% agric0.3% on L/S(‘93-98) 

3% on agric 1% on L/S(‘02/03)

   

Livestock populations

  Total Cattle% drylands

Total shoats% drylands

Total Camels% drylands

Source

Ethiopia 38.5 million (20%)

17 million25% sheep 73% goats

0.5 million(100%)

FAOSTAT

Kenya 11.7 million(60%)

17.9 million60%)

  GoK; WISP 2007)

Tanzania 16.8 million(25% Arusha,

Dodoma, Morogoro, Manyara)

15.6 million   www.nbs.go.tz 

Uganda 6.3 million 7.9 million   www.ubos.org

Grasslands store approximately 34% of the global stock of CO2 – a service worth $7 per hectare

Pastoralist work is hard

Pastoralist are knowledgeable

Pastoralists co-exist with wildlife making perfect use of natural pastures

Mobile livestock more productive than sedentary livestock

7 herds: 3 sedentary & 4 mobile Sedentary (149)

Mobile (546)

Meat production per Kg of breeding female

0.023 kg 0.057 kg

Calving rate 45% 65%

Total deaths 35% 15%

Calf deaths 40% 11%

Pastoralism is more productive than some alternative land uses: commercial / irrigated agriculture

Annual net returns per hectare of Awash river valley land Pastoralism = annual profit of US$417 to US$835 per

hectare in 2009 State cotton farm = annual loss of US$ 1,165 per hectare

over 1980-90s

Direct values Indirect values

Subsistence and livelihoods values

Human capital values

Market based values

Economic input values

Environment input values

New conceptual frameworkTotal Economic Value of Pastoralism

Pastoralism contributes significantly to other sectors

Tourism:

$85 million to Tanzania’s northern circuit tourism industry each year through preservation of dry season pastures

Informal meat roasting business (nyama choma)

601 nyama choma businesses in Arusha town employing 5,600 people with estimated 25,000 dependents – 6.6% of pop of Arusha

At national level, estimated annual turn over US$ 22 million with 2.2 million people receiving some support

Product branding…an indirect value…?

Pastoralists practice agriculture

If the government does not address land-related issues, frustration and conflict may arise

Poor understanding of pastoralism

Why do governments overlook the contribution of pastoralism?

Existing data on benefits is limited

There may be political or economic reasons (e.g. vested interests) which means governments ignore the evidence.

Pastoralists lack the capacity to argue their case

In conclusion:

Government needs to make critical choices in support of pastoralism – KILIMO KWANZA – an important entry point.

pastoral groups in Tanzania need to be at the centre of local and national discourses that relate to their livelihoods