Impacts of Government Policies on Pastoralist Livelihoods in the Semi- Arid Areas of Tanzania

Abstract

Nearly eighty percent of the land in Tanzania is classified as semi-arid and the main source of livelihood in these areas is pastoralism and agro-pastoralism. Pastoralism in Tanzania is, however, under threat from the effects of human settlement and state encroachment in favour of wildlife conservation all which are increasingly forcing pastoralists off their traditional lands. The growth of the livestock population has also led to increased movement of large herds of livestock to areas which traditionally had few livestock, such as Mbeya, Iringa, Morogoro, Rukwa and Coast Regions, creating serious land use conflicts and violence between pastoralists and crop farmers. Other pressures include poor infrastructure, hostile market mechanisms and unfavourable government development policies. Most public policies do not actively support adaptation mechanisms that allow sustainable development of rangelands and are generally hostile to pastoralism. As a result, pastoralists are faced by poverty due to the negative effects of climate change like droughts and unusual rainfall patterns all which increase conflicts over dwindling natural land resources. The following key policy, socio-economic problems and their impact on pastoralism are analysed in this paper. • Performance of public policies for adaptation and sustainable development of natural resources in Tanzania; • Shrinking grazing lands due to human population and wildlife needs pressures • Breakdown of traditional institutions governing the pastoralists way of life It is concluded that with the right policies, economic plans that support it, pastoralism could be a viable and sustainable livelihood that could support many. At the same time it is also recognised that viable and sustainable alternative livelihood activities should be encouraged. Finally, it is recommended that public policies that strike a balance between restricted mobility and rangeland resources conservation, maintain pastoralist traditional institutions and adaptation to severe impacts of climate change are necessary.