Zonal
Research Co-ordination
The southern zone
of Tanzania comprises
Mtwara
and Lindi
regions; and
Tunduru District in
Ruvuma
region (Figure 1). The zone covers
103,500 km2
of which 17,750 km2
is in Mtwara
region and 67,000 km2
is in Lindi
region; and the remaining 18,750 km2
is in Tunduru
district. About two million people
live in the zone of which 50 % are
found in Mtwara
region. The zone borders with the
Indian Ocean in the east,
Morogoro
and
Ruvuma
regions in the west, the Coastal
Region in the North and with the
Ruvuma
River in the south, which forms a
boundary with Mozambique.
The Zone is
characterized by mixed farming
systems whose elements change with
variations in climate and
environment. There are two main
seasons: a humid and hotter wet
season (November to May) and a
cooler, less humid dry season (June
to October). The mean annual
rainfall ranges from 800 mm in
inland and central areas to 1,200 mm
in the hills and plateau near the
Coast. A dry spell of one or two
weeks often occurs at the end of
January or at the beginning of
February. The mean maximum
temperature is 30.5
oC,
which occurs in December (the
hottest month) while the mean
minimum is 21.7
oC and occurs in
July. Potential
evapotranspiration (ETo)
rates ranges 2000 to 2200 mm per
year. Soils are variable, depending
on the origin of deposits; however,
they range from the deep, well
drained, but not very fertile sandy
soils of the sedimentary zones, to
the deep, well drained, and somewhat
more fertile red clay soils. The
zone is endowed with a number of
coastal valleys with streams and
rivers (Figure 2), most of which are
under utilised.
|
Map of Tanzania showing
location of the Southern
zone (area in green) |
|
Costal Valleys and
Streams of Southern zone |
Agriculture is
the main stay for majority of the
population both for food security
and cash income. The most important
crops grown are: starchy staples
notably sorghum, maize, rice,
cassava and millet; leguminous crops
mainly pigeon pea, cowpea, lablab
bean, green gram and
bambaranut;
oilseeds especially sesame and
groundnut; vegetables such as onion,
tomato and sweet potato; and trees
crops particularly cashew, coconut,
orange and banana. Livestock such
as goats, cattle, sheep and poultry
are also part of the farming
systems. Cashew and sesame are the
most important cash crops; however,
rice, cassava, groundnut, maize and
coconut contribute to some of the
households’ income in the zone.
Research
Activities
Over the years,
NARI has been conducting research to
address a wide range of problems
leading to low productivity of major
crop enterprises in the zone.
Results of this work have led to
recommendations on improved
varieties and crop management
practices; and integrated control
measures against insect pest and
diseases of major economic
importance. The activities
currently in progress and the
achievements realised to date are
highlighted in the respective crop
research programmes in other
sections.
Staff
Dr. E. M.
Kafiriti - Zonal Research
Coordinator
