AFRICA RISING
THE EAST AND SOUTHERN AFRICA MEGA-SITE
SELECTION OF PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
SITES
REPORT PREPARED FOR
INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
BY
CHRISTOPHER LEGG
JUNE 2012
Introduction
The Africa RISING project of the Feed the Future Initiative proposes to initiate and test interventions to enable
sustainable intensification of agriculture in three major regions of Africa by working in “mega-sites” which exemplify
the main climatic and human characteristics of these regions. The Dodoma and Manyara regions of Tanzania have been
chosen to represent the East and Southern Africa mega-site, and results of the initial project will be capable of
extrapolation to wide areas of east and southern Africa, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
This report analyses and stratifies the Tanzania mega-site, and present recommendations for selection of operational
sites within the mega-site.
Figure 1. Extrapolation zones for Africa RISING mega-sites
Figure 2. Extrapolation zones from East/Southern Africa Mega-Site
Background to the Mega-Site
According to the Concept Note for East and Southern Africa, “Feed the Future (FtF) Tanzania is focusing on reducing
poverty and improving nutrition through key investments to improve availability and access to staple foods by
enhancing the competitiveness of smallholders. These investments are being geographically focused in areas with high
agricultural potential bordering chronically food insecure districts: Morogoro (rice); Manyara and Dodoma (maize); and
Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Tanga, Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam, Morogoro, Iringa and Mbeya (horticulture).
Dodoma and Manyara Regions in Tanzania are the geographic focus for this project. These areas are located in the
Southern Agriculture Growth Corridor of Tanzania. Dodoma Region is a region centrally positioned in Tanzania. This
Region is bordered by Manyara Region in the North, Morogoro in the East, Iringa in the South and Singida in the West.
Much of the region is a plateau rising gradually from some 830 metres. There are three agro-ecological sub-zones in this
region.
Zone I includes the drier areas with 300-500 mm. This agro-ecological zone covers most of the Manyara region and the
Masai Steppe in Northeast part of Kondoa, Southern part of Dodoma Rural and Southwest part of Mpwapwa District.
The area is dominated by dry, flat or undulating plain with low population. Rainfall is very unreliable. The soils are
mostly reddish-brown loamy sands with grey clays in depressions. Major crops in these areas are sorghum, pearl millet,
cassava, sweet potatoes, groundnuts, simsim, grapes, Lablab purpureus and sunflower. Potential legume crops include
pigeon pea, and cowpea. Potential vegetable crops include African eggplant, Ethiopian mustard, African nightshade,
amaranth and vegetable cowpea
Zone II has rainfall of 500-700 mm. It covers central and southern part of Kondoa District, Northern part of Dodoma
District, the whole part of Kongwa District and part of Mpwapwa. The area has dark-brown and dark-reddish loamy
sands. Major crops are maize, sorghum, groundnuts, grapes, sunflower, cassava, and simsim. Cowpea, tepary
(Phaseolus actufilius) and pigeon-pea are legumes with high potential. Ethiopian mustard, African nightshade and
vegetable cowpea are vegetables with high potential.
Zone III has better rainfall of 700mm-1000mm. It covers the central part of Mpwapwa District and the Bereko
highlands in Kondoa District. This area has deep dark-reddish brown clay loams and black-clay soil in depressions and
valleys. Major crops are maize, sunflower, grain legumes, vegetables and bananas. The region is suitable for cowpea,
soybean, pigeon pea and beans. Tomato, African eggplant, Ethiopian mustard, African nightshade, amaranth, vegetable
cowpea, jute mallow and spiderplant are among vegetable crops with a significant potential in this region.”
Figure 3. Farming systems in Tanzania, showing project regions
Description of Mega-Site
The mega-site, although nominally within a single agro-ecozone, includes high levels of variability in many biophysical
and human parameters. Rainfall ranges form less than 500 to more than 1000 mm per year (Figure 5), elevation from
less than 800 to more then 2000 metres (Figure 4), rural population density from less than 2 persons per square
kilometre to more than 20 (Figure 6), and while most parts of the mega-site are relatively flat, rift-faulting, volcanic
activity and ancient highlands result in some zones of steep slopes (figure 7). Access to markets is also variable, as
shown in Figure 8.
Cropping intensity varies dramatically across the area, as shown in Figure 9, with most intensive cultivation in the
higher, wetter areas, and large parts of Simanjiro and Kiteto Districts having little or no cropped land. In terms of
farming systems, at a national scale (Figure 3) most of the mega-site is either maize-dominated or maize with either
sorghum or millet with moderate to high livestock densities. At a more detailed scale, and data is unfortunately not
available for Dodoma Rural District, much of the mega-site is dominated by maize, with areas of maize with millet and
sorghum, and some small areas dominated by either sorghum or millet. Livestock density is mostly high to very high
(Figure 10).
Figure 4. Topography in East/Southern Africa mega-site
Figure 5. Annual rainfall in East/Southern Africa mega-site
Figure 6. Population density in East/Southern Africa mega-site
Figure 7. Slopes in East/Southern Africa mega-site
Figure 8. Access to Markets
Figure 9. Cropped areas (2001) from Africover in East/Southern Africa mega-site
Figure 10. Farming systems by Wards in East/Southern Africa mega-site
Rationale for site selection within mega-site.
Based on discussions in the three mega-site areas, actual project sites will be communities (villages) or groups of
communities. Project sites for Africa RISING should, ideally, cover the full range of biophysical and human variability
within the mega-site, except that, since the emphasis of the project is on sustainable intensification, areas with poor
access to markets and very low population densities should be avoided. Annual rainfall (length of growing season could
alternatively be used) is the dominant factor determining what crops can be grown. Elevation is a useful proxy for
temperature, both mean and maxima/minima. Slopes are an important constraint to agriculture, affecting the area of
land available for simple cultivation, the farming techniques applied, and the risk of erosion. All wards in the two target
regions were coded for classes of rainfall, elevation, mean slope, population density and market access (see Table 1 for
class definitions), and an initial selection made on the basis of moderate to high rural population densities and good to
moderate access to markets. The wards were then grouped into twelve categories of rainfall-elevation-slope classes to
represent the full range of each of these variables, and two wards selected within each category for project
implementation. The selected wards are always the largest wards meeting the required combination of characteristics, in
order to permit greater choice of final target communities. Where possible, the two wards selected for each class are in
different districts, although some combinations of rainfall, elevation and slope are found only in single districts.
Suggested wards are listed in Table 2, and their locations shown in Figure 12.
Class
Table 1. Classification Criteria for Stratification Parameters
Population
Rainfall
Elevation
Slope
Access
1
> 500
500-650
700 - 1000
<1
< 300
2
200 - 500
650 - 800
1000 - 1400
1 to 2
300 - 600
3
100 - 200
800 - 950
1400 - 1800
2 to 5
> 600
4
50 - 100
950 - 1100
1800 - 2200
>5
5
10 to 50
The final selection of implementation sites will have to be made by the project teams in the area, based on existing
projects in SIMLESA, CRP 1.1 and CRP 1.2 and other linkages, as well as assessments of the importance of livestock
and legumes. Climate change is predicted to affect the whole area, with a reduction of length of growing season of more
than 20 days by 2050 (Figure 11). The reduction will be greater in the already dry eastern portions of Simanjiro and
Kiteto Districts, so any project design will have to allow for this. Reductions in length of growing season in the more
humid highlands of Mbulu and Babati may not have such serious consequences. If no suitable sites can be found within
the suggested wards, additional wards in the same classes can be found by reference to Table 3. If the number of classes
proposed in this report is too great, then similar classes can be combined, for example medium rainfall and low
elevation can be combined with medium rainfall and medium elevation.
Figure 11. Predicted reduction in growing Season by 2050
Figure 12. Recommended Target Wards for Africa RISING
Table 2. Recommended target wards in East/Southern Africa Mega-Site
Class ID
Description
CN Zone
Wards
A
Low rain low elev
flat
Zone 1
Orkesumet, Huzi
B
Low rain low elev
slopes
Zone 1
Mlunduzi, Ngorika
C
Med rain low elev
flat
Zone 2
Nkaiti, Buigiri
D
Med rain low elev
slopes
Zone 2
Massa, Mwada
E
Med rain med elev
flat
Zone 2
Kwadelo, Mtanana
F
Med rain med elev
slopes
Zone 2
Partimbo, Njoge
G
Med rain high elev
flat
Zone 2
Getanuwas
H
Med rain high elev
slopes
Zone 2
Bassodesh, Kolo
I
High rain med elev
slopes
Zone 3
Kiru, Hogoro
J
High rain high elev
slopes
Zone 3
Maghang, Maretadu
K
High rain v high elev Zone 3
slopes
Tumati, Dongobesh
L
V high reain v high
elev slopes
Tlawi, Murray
Zone 3
In Table 3 below, fields are as follows:PP = Population Class, originally from 1=very dense to 6= very sparse. Only classes 3-5 selected
for this study
EL = elevation class. 4 classes from lowest to highest elevation in the target divisions
SL = slope class. Based on mean slope in ward, Four classes from flat to steep slopes
RA = Rainfall class. 4 classes from lowest rainfall in region to highest
AC = Access class. Three classes from best to worst market access. Only classes 1 and 2 used for
this analysis
CC = Number of days decrease in growing season by 2050 predicted by Jones and Thornton
TLU = Tropical Livestock Units per capita
Target = recommended target wards based on rainfall, elevation and slope. Two wards selected per
category to allow flexibility in choice
Table 3. Characteristics of Wards in Dodoma and Manyara Divisions
District
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Rural
Dodoma Urban
Dodoma Urban
Dodoma Urban
Dodoma Urban
Dodoma Urban
Dodoma Urban
Dodoma Urban
Dodoma Urban
Dodoma Urban
ward
Babayu
Bahi
Buigiri
Chali
Chibelela
Chikola
Chinugulu
Chipanga
Dabalo
Handali
Haneti
Huzi
Ibihwa
Ibugule
Idifu
Igandu
Ikowa
Ilindi
Iringa Mvumi
Itiso
Kigwe
Lamaiti
Majeleko
Makanda
Makang'wa
Manchali
Manda
Manzase
Membe
Mpalanga
Mpamantwa
Msamalo
Msanga
Mtitaa
Mundemu
Muungano
Mwitikira
Nghambaku
Segala
Zanka
Chihanga
Hombolo
Ipala
Kikombo
Makutopora
Mbabala
Mbalawala
Mkonze
Mpunguzi
Division
PP
Mundemu
5
Bahi
3
Chilionwa
3
Chipanga
3
Mwitikira
4
Chipanga
3
Mwitikira
5
Chipanga
4
Itiso
5
Mvumi
3
Itiso
5
Mwitikira
5
Bahi
5
Mwitikira
4
Mvumi
4
Mvumi
4
Chilionwa
4
Bahi
4
Makang'wa
3
Itiso
5
Bahi
3
Mundemu
4
Chilionwa
3
Mundemu
5
Makang'wa
3
Chilionwa
3
Mwitikira
5
Makang'wa
5
Itiso
5
Chipanga
5
Bahi
4
Chilionwa
4
Chilionwa
3
Mwitikira
5
Mundemu
5
Mvumi
3
Mwitikira
5
Mwitikira
5
Itiso
5
Mundemu
5
Hombolo
4
Hombolo
3
Hombolo
4
Kikombo
4
Hombolo
4
Zuzu
3
Zuzu
3
Dodoma Urban 3
Zuzu
3
EL
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
2
2
1
2
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
SL RA AC CC
2
1
2 20
1
1
1 20
1
2
1 20
1
1
1 20
1
1
2 20
1
1
1 20
2
1
2 20
1
1
1 20
4
2
2 20
3
1
1 20
3
2
2 20
1
1
2 20
1
1
1 20
1
1
1 20
2
1
1 20
3
1
1 20
2
1
1 20
2
1
1 20
2
1
2 20
3
2
2 20
2
1
1 20
1
1
2 20
3
2
1 20
1
1
2 20
1
1
1 20
2
1
1 20
2
1
2 20
2
1
1 20
3
2
2 20
2
1
1 20
1
1
1 20
3
1
1 20
3
2
1 20
1
1
1 20
1
1
1 20
4
1
2 20
1
1
1 20
2
1
2 20
2
2
2 20
4
2
2 20
1
2
2 20
3
2
2 20
1
2
1 20
2
1
1 20
1
1
1 20
2
1
1 20
1
1
1 20
2
1
1 20
2
1
1 20
TLU
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
3.67
0.34
1.23
1.71
1.46
1.76
2.93
0.86
3.42
FARMSYS
target
C
A
Millet-maize
maize
millet
Maize-millet
millet
millet
millet
millet
millet
District
Dodoma Urban
Dodoma Urban
Dodoma Urban
Dodoma Urban
Kondoa
Kondoa
Kondoa
Kondoa
Kondoa
Kondoa
Kondoa
Kondoa
Kondoa
Kondoa
Kondoa
Kondoa
Kondoa
Kondoa
Kondoa
Kondoa
Kondoa
Kondoa
Kondoa
Kondoa
Kondoa
Kondoa
Kondoa
Kondoa
Kondoa
Kondoa
Kondoa
Kondoa
Kondoa
Kondoa
Kongwa
Kongwa
Kongwa
Kongwa
Kongwa
Kongwa
Kongwa
Kongwa
Kongwa
Kongwa
Kongwa
Mpwapwa
Mpwapwa
Mpwapwa
Mpwapwa
ward
Msalato
Nala
Nzuguni
Zuzu
Chandama
Changaa
Chemba
Dalai
Farkwa
Goima
Gwandi
Haubi
Jangalo
Kalamba
Kikilo
Kikore
Kingale
Kisese
Kolo
Kwadelo
Kwamtoro
Lalta
Makorongo
Mnenia
Mondo
Mpendo
Mrijo
Ovada
Pahi
Paranga
Sanzawa
Soera
Suruke
Thawi
Chamkoroma
Hogoro
Iduo
Mkoka
Mtanana
Njoge
Pandambili
Sagara
Sejeli
Ugogoni
Zoissa
Berege
Chunyu
Ipera
Kimagai
Division
PP
Hombolo
3
Zuzu
4
Dodoma Urban 3
Zuzu
4
Goima
3
Kolo
4
Goima
5
Mondo
4
Farkwa
5
Goima
4
Farkwa
5
Pahi
3
Mondo
3
Pahi
4
Bereko
3
Bereko
3
Kondoa Urban 4
Bereko
4
Kolo
4
Pahi
3
Kwamtoro
4
Kwamtoro
5
Farkwa
5
Bereko
4
Mondo
4
Kwamtoro
5
Goima
4
Kwamtoro
5
Pahi
3
Mondo
3
Kwamtoro
5
Kolo
4
Kondoa Urban 4
Kolo
4
Mlali
3
Zoissa
3
Mlali
3
Zoissa
3
Kongwa
4
Mlali
4
Mlali
3
Kongwa
4
Kongwa
4
Kongwa
3
Zoissa
4
Mpwapwa
5
Mpwapwa
4
Rudi
5
Mpwapwa
4
EL
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
2
3
3
2
2
2
3
2
2
2
1
2
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
2
2
1
1
2
1
SL RA AC CC
1
1
1 20
2
1
1 20
1
1
1 20
2
1
1 20
2
2
2 20
3
2
2 20
2
2
2 20
2
2
2 20
3
1
1 20
3
2
2 20
2
1
2 20
4
2
2 20
2
2
2 20
4
2
2 20
3
2
1 20
3
2
2 20
3
2
2 20
3
2
2 20
4
2
1 20
1
2
2 20
2
1
2 20
2
1
2 20
2
1
2 20
3
2
2 20
3
2
2 20
1
1
2 20
2
2
2 20
2
1
2 20
2
2
2 20
2
2
2 20
3
1
2 20
4
3
1 20
3
2
2 20
4
2
2 20
4
2
2 30
2
3
1 20
2
2
1 20
2
2
2 20
1
2
1 20
2
2
1 20
2
2
2 30
3
2
1 20
2
2
1 20
3
2
1 20
2
2
2 20
4
1
1 20
3
1
1 20
4
3
2 40
3
1
1 20
TLU
0.00
0.69
0.00
0.60
0.44
0.00
0.00
0.64
0.00
0.48
10.85
0.00
0.06
1.75
1.13
0.28
0.42
0.00
3.35
0.00
1.00
0.00
1.57
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.11
1.47
1.13
0.32
1.33
0.93
2.51
1.55
0.68
0.19
0.01
0.03
0.89
0.00
0.42
0.02
0.19
0.84
1.14
1.75
0.49
0.14
0.40
FARMSYS
target
millet
millet
maize
Maize-millet
maize
maize
Maize-legumes
Maize-millet
Maize-legumes
maize
Maize-millet
Maize-legumesH
E
maize
sorghum
maize
Maize-millet
Millet-maize
Maize-millet
millet
maize
maize
Maize-millet
maize
maize
maize
maize
maize
maize
maize
Maize-sorg
maize
sorghum
maize
Maize-sorg
sorghum
Maize-sorg
maize
I
E
F
District
Mpwapwa
Mpwapwa
Mpwapwa
Mpwapwa
Mpwapwa
Mpwapwa
Mpwapwa
Babati
Babati
Babati
Babati
Babati
Babati
Babati
Babati
Babati
Babati
Babati
Hanang
Hanang
Hanang
Hanang
Hanang
Hanang
Hanang
Hanang
Hanang
Hanang
Hanang
Hanang
Hanang
Hanang
Hanang
Kiteto
Kiteto
Kiteto
Kiteto
Kiteto
Kiteto
Kiteto
Kiteto
Kiteto
Mbulu
Mbulu
Mbulu
Mbulu
Mbulu
Mbulu
Mbulu
ward
Luhundwa
Massa
Matomondo
Mazae
Mima
Mlunduzi
Rudi
Bonga
Dabil
Duru
Gidas
Kiru
Magara
Mwada
Nkaiti
Riroda
Sigino
Ufana
Bassodesh
Bassotu
Gehandu
Gendabi
Getanuwas
Gidahababieg
Gisambalang
Gitting
Hidet
Laghanga
Masakta
Masqaroda
Mogitu
Simbay
Sirop
Dongo
Dosidosi
Engusero
Kijungu
Lengatei
Njoro
Partimbo
Songambele
Sunya
Bargish
Bashay
Daudi
Dongobesh
Gehandu
Kainam
Maghang
Division
PP
Kibakwe
5
Rudi
4
Mpwapwa
4
Mpwapwa
4
Mpwapwa
4
Rudi
5
Rudi
5
Gorowa
3
Bashinet
3
Gorowa
3
Gorowa
4
Babati
4
Mbugwe
3
Mbugwe
4
Mbugwe
5
Gorowa
3
Babati
3
Bashinet
4
Bassotu
4
Bassotu
3
Balangdalalu 4
Katesh
4
Bassotu
3
Endasak
4
Simbay
5
Endasak
3
Simbay
3
Bassotu
3
Endasak
3
Endasak
4
Katesh
4
Simbay
4
Simbay
5
Sunya
4
Dosidosi
4
Matui
4
Kijungu
5
Kijungu
5
Olbolot
5
Kibaya
5
Dosidosi
5
Sunya
5
Daudi
3
Dongobesh
3
Daudi
3
Dongobesh
3
Daudi
4
Endagikot
3
Dongobesh
3
EL
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
3
3
2
1
1
1
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
4
3
3
3
SL RA AC CC
4
2
2 40
4
2
2 30
4
2
2 30
4
1
1 20
4
1
2 20
4
1
2 20
4
1
2 20
4
3
1 20
3
3
1 30
4
3
1 30
4
3
1 20
4
3
2 20
4
3
1 20
2
2
1 20
1
2
2 20
4
3
1 20
4
3
1 30
3
3
1 30
2
2
2 30
2
2
2 30
3
3
2 30
3
2
2 30
1
2
2 20
4
2
1 20
2
2
2 20
4
3
2 30
2
2
2 20
2
2
2 30
3
3
1 30
3
3
1 30
2
2
2 30
2
2
2 20
4
2
2 20
2
2
2 30
3
2
2 30
2
2
2 20
2
1
2 40
2
2
2 40
3
1
2 30
2
2
2 30
2
2
2 20
2
2
2 30
3
4
1 30
3
3
2 30
4
4
1 40
3
3
1 30
3
3
1 30
4
4
2 40
3
3
2 30
TLU
0.78
0.78
0.98
0.75
0.21
0.15
5.48
1.84
5.01
2.49
7.15
2.25
1.50
7.11
0.00
2.41
2.23
5.90
8.54
6.88
4.54
4.77
2.44
5.63
4.86
3.29
7.28
4.13
7.69
0.00
6.68
0.00
5.21
1.34
0.30
0.06
0.65
58.11
0.43
2.18
0.13
3.99
7.25
6.22
8.31
8.42
4.54
3.08
4.63
FARMSYS
target
maize
sorghum
D
Maize-legumes
sorghum
Maize-sorg
sorghum
B
sorghum
Maize-legumes
Maize-legumes
maize
Maize-legumes
Maize-legumesI
Maize-legumes
Maize-rice
D
C
Maize-legumes
maize
Maize-legumes
Maize-legumesH
Maize-legumes
Maize-legumes
Maize-legumes
Maize-legumesG
maize
maize
Maize-legumes
Maize-legumes
Maize-legumes
Maize-legumes
Maize-legumes
maize
maize
maize
maize
maize
maize
maize
maize
F
maize
maize
Maize-legumes
Maize-legumes
Maize-legumes
Maize-legumesK
Maize-legumes
Maize-legumes
maize
J
District
Mbulu
Mbulu
Mbulu
Mbulu
Simanjiro
Simanjiro
Simanjiro
Simanjiro
Simanjiro
Simanjiro
ward
Division
PP
Maretadu
Dongobesh
4
Murray
Endagikot
3
Tlawi
Endagikot
4
Tumati
Dongobesh
3
Emboreet
Emboreet
5
Msitu wa Tembo
Msitu wa Tembo4
Ngorika
Msitu wa Tembo5
Orkesumet Naberera
5
Shambarai
Moivo
5
Terrat
Terrat
5
EL SL RA AC CC
3
2
3
2 30
4
4
4
2 40
4
4
4
2 40
4
4
3
2 40
3
2
2
2 30
1
3
2
2 40
1
2
1
2 40
1
1
1
2 40
1
2
2
2 30
2
2
2
2 30
TLU
6.68
2.74
3.29
5.46
5.98
9.82
1.24
0.65
3.86
6.04
FARMSYS
target
Maize-legumesJ
Maize-legumesL
maize
L
Maize-legumesK
Maize-legumes
maize
Rice-maize
B
maize
A
Maize-legumes
Maize-legumes