rufiji environment management project - Coastal Forests of Kenya ...

REMP Technical Report 40: Rangeland Resources in Rufjiji
4 Conclusions and Recommendations
4.1 Conclusions
From the assessment, it can be concluded that Rufiji District has areas which are, using physical
measurement parameters, potentially suitable for livestock production. The extensive grassland
available supports a number of wild animals and could also provide forage to livestock. The study
shows that most of the rangelands sampled are in good condition and are potential areas for livestock
grazing. However , many of the sampled areas have never been grazed. Since the assessment
considered the present status, their long-term suitability needs to be monitored in terms of animal
condition and the range productivity over several seasons. From the analysis, areas that could support
extensive livestock grazing area are Nyambawala, Muyuyu, Mtunda, Chumbi, Ruaruke B, Kikale,
Kilimani, Umwe North and Mgomba North.
However, in all these areas there is tsetse infestation and no livestock infrastructure. Similarly, there
are areas that are not suitable for pastoral type of production system such as those that may interfere
with the biodiversity conservation and cause environmental pollution in flood plains and in areas where
tse tse control is difficult and water for livestock is lacking.
In areas where livestock might be allowed to graze there is a need to keep the livestock number to the
suggested animal unit number per given area. This will allow sustainable use of the land. Similarly, for
efficient and sustainable use of these areas, there is a need to have infrastructure in place such as dips,
watering points and livestock markets. Most of the areas have no livestock extension staff. The District
Council might be required to employ and locate them in areas that might be used for livestock.
Traditionally, the local people are not livestock keepers, for sustainable use of the rangelands, there is a
need to educate the local people and immigrating pastoralists on livestock husbandry.
There is a need to have village by-laws and agreements between crop farmers and livestock keepers to
have clear demarcation of all land use and conservation areas especially the cropping and grazing
areas.
Water sources for human beings should not be used for watering livestock. Village governments
should have frequent meetings of all the village members and all other stakeholders to discuss issues
relating to rangelands management and utilization. The District Council through its relevant
departments should facilitate and probably initiate these efforts. There is a need to convene frequent
meeting among the rangeland users to discuss and assess the rangelands status periodically. Among
other things the study did not consider the value and economics of wild animals versus pastoral
production This issues should receive further research.
4.2 Recommendations
From the area sampled for assessment and the analysis, Rufiji has the potential of supporting extensive
livestock grazing. However, it has some limitation in some areas such as presence of floodplains (that
are used for agriculture and where farmers practice recession agriculture), tsetse infestations, lack of
water for livestock and lack of other infrastructure.
The study, recommends the following that need to be considered:
• A District statement should be issued asking prospective immigrant pastoralists to wait outside
until the District, in collaboration with the villagers has developed a Livestock Management
Strategy that will provide wise and sustainable use of the available grazing resource.
Meanwhile those pastoralists who are in Rufiji already should work together with local people
in the respective villages to properly allocate and demarcate the grazing areas, watering points
and stock routes.
• Vegetation maps need to be established that will guide the District Council in planning,
implementing and analyzing the results of subsequent rangelands surveys (as a necessary early
element of rangelands inventory). Rangeland Management decisions require an understanding
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