Land Use Planning and Food Security in Rural Tanzania: Case of Masimavalafu village in Ludewa District
Abstract
The Southern Highlands Zone of Tanzania is among the big five corridors which produce large amount of food in Tanzania. The country is, therefore, trying to ensure that under constant weather conditions these areas ensure food security even during the drought seasons. Basing on this idea, this paper investigates village land use planning as one of the land administration and management tools in the context of increasing food security to villagers and the country at large. This study aimed at finding out whether village land use planning has enhanced food production and security in rural areas or not. Data were captured though interviews with villagers, leaders and various groups, mapping and spatial analyses of crop production trends in the periods in the village. Results have showed an increase in food production and security after the preparation of a village land use plan. This success was manifested by external donors who facilitated the preparation and implementation of the Village Land Use Plan (VLUP), and diving further to the registration of land rights and issuance of title deeds for each land parcel including communal lands in the village. The study draws its conclusion basing on the scientific approaches of preparing VLUPs and implementation of appropriate land management measures. In most cases, these steps are not carried out due to insufficient fund.
References
Anas, A.; Kim, I. (1996) General equilibrium models of polycentric endogenous congestion and job agglomeration. Journal of Urban Economics, Vol. 40, Issue 2, 232–256. https://doi.org/10.1006/juec.1996.0031.
Andersson, R.; Samartin, A. (1985) A Model for Urban Commuting in a Multicenter City. Journal of Advanced Transport, Vol. 20, 173–191. https://doi.org/10.1002/atr.5670200206.
AU, (2012) “Boosting Intra-African Trade: A key to agricultural transformation”, Concept Note, AU Joint Conference of African Ministers of Agriculture and Ministers of Trade 29th October to 2nd November, 2012: http://www.au.int/ar/sites/default/files/concept%20note-%20JMCAT.pdf.
Barinaga-Rementeria, I., and Etxano, I. (2020) Weak or strong sustainability in rural land use planning? Assessing two case studies through multi-criteria analysis. Sustainability, 12(6), p. 2422. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12062422.
Berardy, A. Seager, T. Costello, C. Wharton, C. (2020) Considering the role of life cycle analysis in holistic food systems research, policy, and practice. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems and Community Development, 9 (4), pp. 209-227. DOI: 10.5304/jafscd.2020.094.009.
Bruinsma, M. (2003) Land use in the Kilombero valley from shifting cultivation towards permanent farming, In: Retherberg, H. (Ed.) Smallholder Farming and Smallholder Development in Tanzania, Weltforum Verlag Munchen, Dillingen, 2003.
Bullock, J.M., Dhanjal-Adams, K.L., Milne, A., Oliver, T.H., Todman, L.C., Whitmore, A.P., and Pywell, R.F. (2017) Resilience and food security: Rethinking an ecological concept. Journal of Ecology, 105 (4), pp. 880-884. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.12791.
Byiers, B. (2013) Corridors of power or plenty? Lessons from Tanzania and Mozambique and implications for CAADP. European Centre for Development Policy Management Discussion paper No. 138. Available at www.ecdpm.org/dp138.
Chaturvedi, V.; de Vries, W.T. (2021) Machine Learning Algorithms for Urban Land Use Planning: A Review. Urban Science, Vol. 5, Issue 3, 68. https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci5030068.
Chen, X.; Zhao, R.; Shi, P.; Zhang, L.; Yue, X.; Han, Z.; Wang, J.; Dou, H. (2023) Land Use Optimization Embedding in Ecological Suitability in the Embryonic Urban Agglomeration. Land, Vol. 12, Issue 6, 1164. https://doi.org/10.3390/land12061164.
Ellis, E.C., Pascual, U., Mertz, O. (2019) Ecosystem services and nature’s contribution to people: Negotiating diverse values and trade-offs in land systems. Current Opinion on Environmental Sustainability, 38, pp. 86-94. DOI: 10.1016/j.cosust.2019.05.001.
Eilola, S., Niina Kayhkö, N., and Fagerholm, N. (2021) Lessons learned from participatory land use planning with high-resolution remote sensing images in Tanzania: Practitioners’ and participants’ perspectives. Land Use Policy, Vol. 109, 105649. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2021.105649
FAO, (2001) The State of Food Insecurity in the World. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy.
FAO, (2004) FAOSTAT, [http://faostat.fao.org/site/291/default.aspx], Rome, Italy: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
FAO, (2015) The State of Food Insecurity in the World. Rome, Italy.
FAO, (2008b) Financing climate change adaptation and mitigation in the agriculture and forestry sectors, in UNFCCC Submission by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Rome.
FAO and UNEP, (1999) The Future of Our Land Facing the Challenge.
GIZ (2011) Land Use Planning: Concept, Tools and Applications. Deutsche Gesellschaft fϋr Internationale Zusammernarbeít (GIZ) GmbH.
Granvik, M., Lindberg, G., Stigzelius, K.-A, Fahlbeck, E., and Surry, Y. (2012) Prospects of multifunctional agriculture as a facilitator of sustainable rural development: Swedish experience of Pillar 2 of the common agricultural policy (CAP). Norwegian Journal of Geography, 66(3), pp. 155-166. https://doi.org/10.1080/00291951.2012.681684.
Guerena, D. (2015) One Acre Fund. Improved Bean Seed Full-Scale Report.
Gunton, T. I. and Day, J.C. (2003) The theory and practice of collaborative planning in resource and environmental management. Environments 31(2), pp.5-20.
Hart, A., Tumsifu, E., Nguni, W., Recha, J., Malley, Z., Masha, R. and Buck, L. (2014) Participatory Land Use Planning to Support Tanzanian Farmer and Pastoralist Investment Experiences from Mbarali District, Mbeya Region, Tanzania.
Horton, P., Banwart, S.A., Brockington, D., Brown, G.W., Bruce, R., Cameron, D., Holdsworth, M., Lenny Koh, S.C., Ton, J., and Jackson, P. (2017) An agenda for integrated system-wide interdisciplinary agri-food research. Food Security, 9, pp. 195-210. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-017-0648-4.
IEED, (2010) Participatory Land Use Planning as a Tool for Community Empowerment in Northern Tanzania: Key highlights in sustainable agriculture and natural resource management. Gatekeeper 147.
IFAD, (2014) How to do Participatory land-use planning: Land tenure toolkit. Madagascar - Agricultural Development Programme in the Highlands.
Jones, C. (2014) Land use planning policies and market forces: Utopian aspirations thwarted? Land Use Policy, 38, 573–579. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2014.01.002.
Jónsdóttir, S. & Gísladóttir, G. (2023) Land use planning, sustainable food production and rural development: A literature analysis. Geography and Sustainability, Volume 4, Issue 4, pp. 391-403. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geosus.2023.09.004.
Li, C.; Wu, Y.; Gao, B.; Zheng, K.; Wu, Y.; Li, C. (2021) Multi-scenario simulation of ecosystem service value for optimization of land use in the Sichuan-Yunnan ecological barrier, China. Ecological Indicators, Vol.132, 108328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.108328
Liu, C.; Deng, C.; Li, Z.; Liu, Y.; Wang, S. (2022) Optimization of Spatial Pattern of Land Use: Progress, Frontiers, and Prospects. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (10), 5805. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19105805
Magina, F.B. and Kanyawanah, Z.M. (2019) Climate, Land Use Change and Local Adaptation Strategies in Ecological Areas: Case of Miwaleni River ValleyCentre for Development. African Journal of Land Policy and Geospatial Sciences, Vol.2, No.2, pp.46-56. https://doi.org/10.48346/IMIST.PRSM/ajlp-gs.v2i2.14306.
Mui, Y., Khojasteh, M., Hodgson, K., and Raja, S. (2018) Rejoining the planning and public health fields: Leveraging comprehensive plans to strengthen food systems in an urban versus rural jurisdiction. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems and Community Development, 8, pp. 73-93. https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2018.08B.004
Mwatawala, H.W., Mwang’onda, E. and Hyera, R.N. (2016) Paddy Production in Southern Highlands of Tanzania: Contribution to Household Income and Challenges Faced by Paddy Farmers in Mbarali District. Scholars Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, 3(3):262-269. DOI: 10.36347/sjavs.2016.v03i03.020
NEPAD, (2012) CAADP at 10 Years: rallying for results and impact. NEPAD discussion paper draft.
NLUPC, (2011) Guidelines for participatory village land use planning, administration and management in Tanzania. Second Edition. Dar es Salaam: National Land Use Planning Commission.
Nukala, R.B. and Mutuz, D. (2015) Strategic Approach for Sustainable Land Use in an Emerging Country – Case of India. GIZ, New Delhi.
OECD, (2013) OECD Investment Policy Reviews: Tanzania 2013. London: OECD.
One Acre Fund, (2014) Finger Millet Trial–Long Rain Season, Kenya. Also available at www.oneacrefund.org.
Power, A.G. (2010) Ecosystem services and agriculture: Tradeoffs and synergies. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 365(1554), pp.2959-2971. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2010.0143
Rampa, F. (2012) “Tapping the Potential of Regional Agricultural Trade: Why regional cooperation and integration are important for CAADP and food security”, ECDPM Briefing Note No.41: www.ecdpm.org/bn41
Salazar-Quitalig, R. and Orale, R.L. (2016) Comprehensive Land Use Planning Capacity of Local Government Units in Samar Philippines. The Countryside Development Research Journal, Vol 4, Issue 1, pp.36-55.
Ruben, R., Verhagen, J., and Plaisier, C. (2019) The challenge of food systems research: What difference does it make? Sustainability, 11 (1), p. 171. DOI: 10.3390/su11010171.
Salvör Jónsdóttir, S. and Gísladóttir, G. (2023) Land use planning, sustainable food production and rural development: A literature analysis. Geography and Sustainability, 4, 391-403. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geosus.2023.09.004
Slätmo, E. (2019). Land for agriculture? Conflicts and synergies between land use in two parts of Scandinavia. Fennia - International Journal of Geography, 197(1), pp. 25-39. https://doi.org/10.11143/fennia.63074.
Swinton, S.M. Lupi, F., Robertson, G.P., and Hamilton, S.K. (2007) Ecosystem services and agriculture: Cultivating agricultural ecosystems for diverse benefits. Ecology and Economics, 64 (2), pp. 245-252. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2007.09.020.
Tyler, S. (2014) Does Collaboration Make Any Difference? Linking Collaborative Watershed Groups to Environmental Outcomes. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2519663 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2519663
UN (2015) Development Agenda: Goals, Targets and Indicators. The Millennium Development Goals Report, 2015.
URT (2007) The Land Use Planning Act No.6. Government Printer. Dar es Salaam
URT (2009) Household Budget Survey 2007 – Tanzania Main-land, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Dar es Salaam.
URT and UNDP (2013) Southern Agriculture Growth Corridor (SAGCOT) Capacity Development Project.
Vien, D. (2012) Soaring Food Prices- A Challenge to Food Security and Nutrition in Cambodia, presentation at Launching Workshop on ―Strategic Framework for Food Security and Nutrition 2008-2012 (SFFSN), http://www.foodsecurity.gov.kh/otherdocs/Soaring-Food-Prices-a-challenge-to-FSN-Eng.pdf.
Wang, Z.; Han, Q.; De Vries, B. (2022) Land Use Spatial Optimization Using Accessibility Maps to Integrate Land Use and Transport in Urban Areas. Applied Spatial Analysis and Policy, Vol. 15, Issue 3, 1-25. DOI: 10.1007/s12061-022-09448-0.
Wilson, R.T. and Lewis, J. (2015) The Maize Value Chain in Tanzania. A report from the Southern Highlands Food Systems Programme. FAO
World Bank (2012) African Can Help Feed Africa: Removing barriers to regional trade in food staples, Poverty Reduction and Economic Management, Africa Region: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTAFRICA/Resources/Africa-Can-Feed-Africa-Report.pdfa
Copyright (c) 2025 Fredrick Bwire Magina
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyright for this article is retained by the author(s), with first publication rights granted to the journal. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
