Tanzania’s livestock population has been increasing by 5% per anum. Its 21.3 million large herd of cattle makes it the largest in southern Africa. However, on the downside, 97% of all animals are kept by smallholders who are often faced with poor productivity and yield.Mwanza region has the highest livestock density in the country and the third largest total herd of all regions. The increased meat production for intra and inter-regional consumption, hides and skins for domestic and export must have high priority. Mwanza Region is endowed with good quality pasture land (287,319Ha) with a livestock population distributed vis 1.3 million cattle, 500,000 goats, and 150,000 sheep. This presents an excellent opportunity for the establishment of Commercial Ranches and Livestock Multiplication Units (LMU). Specifically in Mabuku (62 Km from Mwanza City) in Misungwi District, there is about 10,000 Ha of land with a cattle capacity of 6,000 livestock.
Meat Processing
Mwanza is strategically located in the zone to house a modern meat processing plant. The entire zone is endowed with large number of livestock and a centrally place meat processing plant will definitely provide leverage to all other regions. In addition, a modern abattoir would be a timely investment through public-private partnership initiative. Mwanza Region alone enjoys a livestock population of 1.3 million cattle, 500,000 goats, and 150,000 sheep. Target districts for locating these investments include: Nyamagana and Ilemela District Kwimba and Sengerema Districts
