Kilimanjaro - Tanzania Online Gateway

(iii)
(iv)
Intermediate Zone
It lies between 900 and 1100 meters above sealevel
and receives enough annual rainfall ranging between
800 and 1250 mm. It has a moderate soil fertility which is
good for coffee plantations, bananas, maize, beans and
suitable for dairy cattle, goats, pigs, rabbits and poultry
farming. Like in the Highlands zone, it has a high
population density of 250 persons per sq kilometer
leading to land shortage and soil erosion.
Lowland Plains zone
This zone lies below 900 meters above sea level
and has an average annual ranfall of between 700 and 900
mm, while temperatures are above 30 0 Centigrade.
Common crops grown in this zone include, maize, cotton,
rice, sorghum, cassava and pigeon peas. Domestic
animals that thrive well in the area are beef cattle, goats
and sheep. It is from this zone where the best hay for
cattle is found, during the dry season livestock keepers
from the highland and intermediate zones obtain or
purchase hay from this zone. Population density is low
with less than 50 people per sq.km. Low density is due to
unfavorable climate, explained by devastating effects of
frequent floods during long rains and the dry nature of the
zone. It is in this zone that irrigation farming is getting
popular through efficient utilization of river water from the
highlands.
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