A survey of Smallholder dairy cattle farmers in Tanzania: Farmer Demographic Characteristics and Basic Management Constraints

Background Since the 1980s, there has been a significant change in the population of smallholder dairy cattle farmers across Tanzania. Therefore, we lack demographic data on that population as well as information on the key constraints reducing productivity. This survey of smallholder dairy farmers across six regions of Tanzania aimed to provide demographic data and to identify those key constraints. Results Of the 301 households surveyed, 74% were headed by men, but in Njombe there was an equal number of women and men. Across all regions, the majority of household heads were aged between 41 to 60 years and had ≤ 10 years of experience as a smallholder dairy farmer. Dairying was the major source of income on 84% of households, ranging from 59–100%, across the six regions. Most respondents had primary education but had gone no further (55%); however, in Morogoro 68% of farmers had been in secondary/university education. Across four regions (Njombe, Mbeya, Kilimanjaro and Arusha), herd size of 3–4 animals was most common (32–50%); however, in Morogoro and Tanga most herds had ˃4 animals (66% and 78%, respectively). Zero-grazing was the most common grazing system (75%), but tethering was predominant (68%) in Mbeya. Across all regions natural pastures were the principal feed source. Across all respondents, cash purchase was the most common means of obtaining their first cattle beast (66%), although in Mbeya a gift from a relative/friend (49%) was the most common source., High input costs (93%), unavailability of feed (71%), lack of land (68%) and diseases (62%) were the most commonly identified constraints., while high breeding costs (96%), poor oestrus detection (89%), cows not displaying oestrus (79%) and lack of AI services (51%) were the key constraints to successful breeding. Conclusion Although there are significant common pints across all six regions in our study, demographic differences across the regions necessitate a regional approach to development. This approach needs to focus on who the farmers are in that region and what those farmers need rather than trying to implement the same solutions across Tanzania.