The role of traditional rangeland resource utilization among selected pastoral communities of Tanzania

Abstract

A study was conducted in two pastoral communities in the reserve grazing areas. These were the reserve grazing pastures, used by the Gogo of Makang'wa, central Tanzania and Maasai of Tingatinga, northern Tanzania, as a strategy to alleviate acute dry seasonal feed shortage. For each study area it composed of part I on socio-economics information and part II on primary production and ecology. The data from part I indicated that households had sufficient number and right categories of people to perform roles and responsibilities on the basis of sex and age. The results of age and education showed that most of the household heads were old people, who still held to traditions and customs. They had difficulties in perceiving present day technological approaches; they were not easily agreeable to changes compared to young people. There was a significant difference (P <0.05) between ownership of land for cultivation and reserve grazing areas in the two ~!U~y,area. In Makang'wa, 71% of the respondents indicated that land was mainly under cultivation while in Tingatinga, 72% of the respondents indicated that land is set aside for reserve grazing. On average Tingatinga owned large herds with an average of90 cattle, 28 sheep and 44 goats per household, while in Makang'wa the average was 48 cattle, 9 sheep and 15 goats per household. The major problems affecting livestock production in the study areas were feed shortage and diseases, as indicated by the respondents declaring the problems 60% in Makang'wa and 58% in Tingatinga. Data on part II of the study revealed that on average forage production was higher in reserve grazing areas, i.e., 3677 kgDM/ha in Tingatinga and 2505 kgDM/ha in Makang'wa. There was a significant difference (P < 0.01) in forage production between sites. However, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the locations. There was a significant difference of woody species between sites (P < 0.01). On average forage samples from Makang'wa and Tingatinga had low values of energy (6.81 ME Mj/kgDm and 6.92 Mj/kgDM) and crude protein (5.1% and 5.5%) respectively. It was evident that woody species, if well managed, increased the diversity of forage resources and forage quality. The results showed that the forage species studied in reserve grazing areas cannot sustain livestock productivity all the year. A proper mixture of grass and legumes will result in forage of higher yield and better quality to support livestock. This traditional practices provide the basis and opportunities for development of improved silvopastoral systems. Though traditional range management is blamed for not being environmentally friendly, the results indicate that there is potential for now and in the future