Economy

Overview of the Regional Economy

The region is almost entirely dependent on agriculture and livestock production, which are locally practiced, largely at household level. There is small-scale processing of agricultural and livestock products. Agriculture is characterised by low productivity resulting from low and erratic rainfall, high
evapo-transpiration and low moisture holding capacity. These conditioned compounded by poor farming practice and overstocking /overgrazing makes region susceptible to extensive soil erosion. The main staples grown in the region include sorghum, bulrush millet, cassava and maize, while major cash crops are groundnuts, sunflower simsim and to a lesser extent castor, and pigeon peas. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, grapes and paddy emerged as important cash and food crops respectively. Livestock is the second contributor to the Regional Economy. The region ranks third in the country in terms of livestock number including cattle, goats and sheep. Poultry and piggery farming for commercial purposes are mainly confined to urban and trading centres. Besides, local chickens abound in the Region, which is in high demand in the Dar es Salaam market.

Natural resources, which include Forestry, Wildlife, Beekeeping, Fishing and mining, are another sector which people are engaged in for their livelihood. Products such as timber, logs, poles, wildlife, honey beeswax, fish, salt and gold are locally harvested. However the sector contribution to the economy of the region is minimal because of poor technological capacities. The industrial
Sector is yet to take shape, apart from a few small scale processing industries such as oil extraction, carpentry, pottery, blacksmith, wood caving, whose operation are mostly confined to urban and trading centres.

GDP and Per Capita Income

The Regional average Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at current prices is Tshs, 262.955 billion (2001) which is about 3.5% annual contribution to the national GDP, ranking twelfth Region in Tanzania mainland , from fourteenth position in 1991 when the Regional GDP was Tshs 34.4 billion.

The average annual per capital at current prices is estimated at Tshs 154,772 (2001). In the absence of traditional cash crops such as tea, coffee, cotton, it is estimated that between 60 and 70 percent of the annual income is derived from the proceeds of which traditionally used to be categorized as food crops which include : maize, sorghum, beans, pearl millet, oilseeds cassava and paddy.

Animal husbandry is the second dominant economic activity in the Region. Proceeds from livestock products are estimated to account for 35 percent of the annual regional GDP.

		Introduction \| GDP and Per Capita Income

	Overview of the Regional Economy The region is almost entirely dependent on agriculture and livestock production, which are locally practiced, largely at household level. There is small-scale processing of agricultural and livestock products. Agriculture is characterised by low productivity resulting from low and erratic rainfall, high evapo-transpiration and low moisture holding capacity. These conditioned compounded by poor farming practice and overstocking /overgrazing makes region susceptible to extensive soil erosion. The main staples grown in the region include sorghum, bulrush millet, cassava and maize, while major cash crops are groundnuts, sunflower simsim and to a lesser extent castor, and pigeon peas. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, grapes and paddy emerged as important cash and food crops respectively. Livestock is the second contributor to the Regional Economy. The region ranks third in the country in terms of livestock number including cattle, goats and sheep. Poultry and piggery farming for commercial purposes are mainly confined to urban and trading centres. Besides, local chickens abound in the Region, which is in high demand in the Dar es Salaam market. Natural resources, which include Forestry, Wildlife, Beekeeping, Fishing and mining, are another sector which people are engaged in for their livelihood. Products such as timber, logs, poles, wildlife, honey beeswax, fish, salt and gold are locally harvested. However the sector contribution to the economy of the region is minimal because of poor technological capacities. The industrial Sector is yet to take shape, apart from a few small scale processing industries such as oil extraction, carpentry, pottery, blacksmith, wood caving, whose operation are mostly confined to urban and trading centres. GDP and Per Capita Income The Regional average Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at current prices is Tshs, 262.955 billion (2001) which is about 3.5% annual contribution to the national GDP, ranking twelfth Region in Tanzania mainland , from fourteenth position in 1991 when the Regional GDP was Tshs 34.4 billion. The average annual per capital at current prices is estimated at Tshs 154,772 (2001). In the absence of traditional cash crops such as tea, coffee, cotton, it is estimated that between 60 and 70 percent of the annual income is derived from the proceeds of which traditionally used to be categorized as food crops which include : maize, sorghum, beans, pearl millet, oilseeds cassava and paddy. Animal husbandry is the second dominant economic activity in the Region. Proceeds from livestock products are estimated to account for 35 percent of the annual regional GDP.