PGIS Workshops’ Summary Reports 24–25 June 2014, Lushoto Highlands Hotel, Lushoto, Tanzania

The report details a 2014 assessment of dairy systems in Tanzania's Tanga region. It identifies a contrast between the intensive zero-grazing systems prevalent in the mountainous Lushoto district and the extensive grazing systems dominant in the lowland Handeni district. The study maps feed sources, infrastructure, and environmental risks, concluding that while dairy production is in early development and not yet a primary local environmental concern, future growth requires improved fodder preservation, better breeding, and enhanced extension services.

• Dairy production systems differ sharply by geography: Lushoto is characterized by intensive zero-grazing (50–65% of the district area) where animals are kept in pens, while Handeni is dominated by extensive grazing (96% of the district area) with larger herds ranging from 80 to over 500 cows per household.
• Feed sources are primarily natural or collected rather than purchased. In Lushoto, farmers plant forage grasses and legumes like Napier grass and Leucaena on field contours and edges, whereas in Handeni, livestock are often allowed to graze crop residues in fields for a small fee.
• Environmental risks vary by district: Lushoto faces soil erosion on steep slopes, though this is mitigated by long-term use of terraces and 'fanya juu' systems. Handeni experiences soil compaction and degradation, particularly within a 0.5 km radius of water points due to overgrazing and trampling.
• Water availability in Handeni is managed through 39 government-built dams constructed over 10 years to support livestock during the dry season, with plans to provide one 'charco dam' for every settlement in the district.
• To increase milk yields—from 1–2 to 5–8 litres per day in extensive systems and 4–8 to 10–15 litres in semi-intensive systems—stakeholders identified three primary strategies: improving feed quantity and variety (including fodder preservation), improving animal breeds through selective breeding or artificial insemination, and strengthening infrastructure and extension services.
• The current impact of dairy production on the local environment is not considered a major cause for concern, as the industry is in early development stages and yield increases can be achieved through better efficiency and education rather than increased resource use.

APA

Morris, J., Fraval, S., Githoro, E., Ran, Y., & Mugatha, S. (2015). PGIS Workshops’ Summary Reports 24–25 June 2014, Lushoto Highlands Hotel, Lushoto, Tanzania. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Air-land-water-resources/CLEANED/sei-wp-2015-05-cleaned-lushoto-1411n.pdf

Chicago

Morris, Joanne, Simon Fraval, Edmund Githoro, Ylva Ran, and Simon Mugatha. PGIS Workshops’ Summary Reports 24–25 June 2014, Lushoto Highlands Hotel, Lushoto, Tanzania. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2015. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Air-land-water-resources/CLEANED/sei-wp-2015-05-cleaned-lushoto-1411n.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Morris |first1=Joanne |last2=Fraval |first2=Simon |last3=Githoro |first3=Edmund |last4=Ran |first4=Ylva |last5=Mugatha |first5=Simon |title=PGIS Workshops’ Summary Reports 24–25 June 2014, Lushoto Highlands Hotel, Lushoto, Tanzania |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=February 2015 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Air-land-water-resources/CLEANED/sei-wp-2015-05-cleaned-lushoto-1411n.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{morris2015pgis, author = {Morris, Joanne and Fraval, Simon and Githoro, Edmund and Ran, Ylva and Mugatha, Simon}, title = {{PGIS Workshops’ Summary Reports 24–25 June 2014, Lushoto Highlands Hotel, Lushoto, Tanzania}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2015}, month = feb, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Air-land-water-resources/CLEANED/sei-wp-2015-05-cleaned-lushoto-1411n.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }