Mbeya, Tanzania

Challenges · Climate Change · Food Security · Landscape Restoration

Landscape Profile

This profile was submitted by a landscape leader closely involved with its management. Submit a profile of your own landscape.

Mbeya, Tanzania

Approximate size (hectares)

6,242,000

Population

2.7 million

Climate

Tropical Wet & Dry

Production Systems

Honey, Livestock, Rice

Description

The Mbeya region is located on the western reaches of the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. This agricultural landscape is very important for the livelihoods of the local communities. It supports livestock and crop production as well as the conservation of natural resources. This region is among the most important in the country for agriculture, particularly for its rice, which is recognized for its superior quality throughout Tanzania. The upper catchments of the landscapes are water towers that benefit users downstream. High population growth and expansion of agricultural land have contributed to environmental degradation, water scarcity, and social conflicts. Climate change has added more challenges, especially due to rainfall variability, with resultant food insecurity. Innovative ways of intensifying the production crops and management of livestock that also takes into consideration biodiversity conservation will lead to sustainable management of the landscape.

Mbeya is located within the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT).

Major Successes

1

Mbeya Innovation Platform

An innovation platform has been established to address the challenges in the Mbeya landscape:

Steps used in the innovation platform
1. Identification of stakeholders
2. Landscape awareness creation
3. Identification the IALM innovation and prioritization
4. Development of operational mechanisms
5. Learning and capacity strengthening in readiness for implementing the innovation
6. Implementation the IALM innovation

Working Together

Facilitation from the Innovation Platform is key

The innovation platform is essential for facilitating coordination and common understanding of integrated landscape management. Community participation is also critical to foster implementation of the agreed actions.

The Mbeya landscape includes the following categories of stakeholders: 

  • Civil society organizations
  • Public Sector (local & national government)
  • Private Sector (agribusiness, energy sector, etc.)
  • Local farm communities and umbrella farmer organizations
  • International organizations (e.g. EcoAgriculture Partners, AWF)

Related Publication

Related Blog Posts