Watershed Level Baseline Assessment in the Mkindo Watershed, Wami Basin, Tanzania

This 2012 technical report by the Stockholm Environment Institute provides a baseline assessment of livelihood strategies in the Mkindo Watershed of the Wami Basin, Tanzania. It identifies three main livelihood groups: farmers with official irrigation, rainfed farmers, and livestock keepers. The report highlights that while irrigated farmers are more financially successful, rainfed farmers use diversification to manage risk. Livestock keepers face the most insecurity due to land degradation and water scarcity, leading to conflicts with farmers. The document also notes environmental degradation caused by commercial sugarcane farming and widespread health issues linked to poor water quality.

• The Mkindo watershed is characterized by three primary livelihood strategies: farmers using official irrigation, those dependent on rainfed agriculture, and livestock keepers. Approximately 75% of agricultural households depend on rainfed agriculture, while 25% have access to improved water management or official irrigation schemes.
• Farmers with access to official irrigation generally perform better financially than rainfed farmers, who in turn are more secure than livestock keepers. Irrigated paddy rice yields are significantly higher, averaging 30 bags per acre in well-organized areas compared to 10 to 15 bags per acre in informal irrigation areas and 6 to 15 bags per acre for rainfed paddy.
• Rainfed farmers employ risk-mitigation strategies by diversifying crops and land use based on topography. They typically maintain rice fields in lower-lying areas and maize fields in higher-lying areas to ensure that either crop survives depending on whether the season is excessively wet or dry.
• Livestock keepers face severe challenges regarding land and water availability, leading to overgrazing and land degradation. Due to a lack of reliable water sources in their own residential areas, many are forced to migrate to Mkindo village or lease land from farmers to access rivers, which frequently causes conflict with agriculturalists.
• The Mtibwa Sugar Estate Ltd. operates a commercial sugarcane plantation using sprinkler irrigation, but its activities have caused environmental issues. The company's construction of a drainage channel altered the course of the Diwale river, which improved conditions in some areas but increased flooding in others, prompting some farmers to switch from sugarcane to paddy rice.
• Public health in the watershed is compromised by poor water quality and limited access to facilities. High incidences of malaria, typhoid, and bilharzias are reported. Domestic water is often sourced from rivers or shallow wells that are contaminated by animals, garbage, or upstream pit latrines.

APA

de Bruin, A., Cinderby, S., Mbilinyi, B., Mahoo, H., & Barron, J. (2012). Watershed Level Baseline Assessment in the Mkindo Watershed, Wami Basin, Tanzania. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Air-land-water-resources/agwater/mkindo-baseline_120716.pdf

Chicago

de Bruin, Annemarieke, Steve Cinderby, Boniface Mbilinyi, Henry Mahoo, and Jennie Barron. Watershed Level Baseline Assessment in the Mkindo Watershed, Wami Basin, Tanzania. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2012. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Air-land-water-resources/agwater/mkindo-baseline_120716.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=de Bruin |first1=Annemarieke |last2=Cinderby |first2=Steve |last3=Mbilinyi |first3=Boniface |last4=Mahoo |first4=Henry |last5=Barron |first5=Jennie |title=Watershed Level Baseline Assessment in the Mkindo Watershed, Wami Basin, Tanzania |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=2012 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Air-land-water-resources/agwater/mkindo-baseline_120716.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{debruin2012watershed, author = {de Bruin, Annemarieke and Cinderby, Steve and Mbilinyi, Boniface and Mahoo, Henry and Barron, Jennie}, title = {{Watershed Level Baseline Assessment in the Mkindo Watershed, Wami Basin, Tanzania}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2012}, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Air-land-water-resources/agwater/mkindo-baseline_120716.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }