 Kilwa Port |
This document is a brief socio-economic profile of Kilwa district. Specifically, it contains in a summary form a historical overview of the district, information on demography, social sector services and economic sector activities. In ease, there is an attempt to indicate trends of occurrence in relation to national statistics.
Like in many other districts in the country, the social sector of Kilwa district is constituted of education, health, water and energy. There services in many cases fall short of the actual demand and are also unevenly distributed. The imbalance in the distribution of services is attributed to uneven distribution of population, which is concentrated in the central and southern parts of the district, particularly in the wards surrounding Kilwa town.
The economy of Kilwa district hinges on crop production, livestock keeping, fishing, trade and to a very limited extent on industrial activities. Like in most districts in Tanzania, Kilwa residents and their District Council draw a substantial amount of income and food from small holder cultivators. The most popular crops are cashew nuts, simsim and coconuts. There is not much cash generated from maize, cassava and rice as these are the main food crops in the district. On the other hand, livestock keeping, particularly dairy cattle, is on the increase. Marginal contribution in council revenue comes form seaweed farming, an activity that is attaining economic significance as the market grows.
After the implementation of the trade liberalization policy, trade in crops, especially cashew nuts and coconut, has made Kilwa town very active in terms of providing support services to local people. Transport entrepreneurs, hotel and guest house owners and telephone services in Kilwa town benefit alot from the trade. With such trade opportunities and benefits, given time, the district as a whole is likely to demonstrate a higher rate of development than before.
Associated with the growing trade in agricultural products, fertile lands have acquired more value than before and land ownership conflicts have also increased. Institutions responsible for administering and managing land which include clan leaders and the district council are in place, but they lack sufficient data on the available land resources. For instance, the extent of land utilization in the district is not fully known by the ward development committees and the district council. It is hoped that the district council, among others, will use this social-economic profile as a tool for informing district development.
Historical Overview of Kilwa District
Historical Overview of Kilwa District
 Old Mosque - Kilwa Kisiwani |
Kilwa’s wealth came from trade. Its location on the coast, with one of the finest harbors in East Africa, allowed it to develop key role in the extensive commercial networks of the region. Caravans came to Kilwa bearing valuable commodities. From the long and dangerous pathways which snaked westwards into the great. African interior, porters emerged weighed down with ivory, resins, ambergris, wax, rhinoceros horn, skins tortoise shell. Slaves also arrived in their chains and were bought and sold on the island, though the trade in slaves was not substantial until the late eighteenth century. From the inland Zimbabwe plateau far to the south came a rich supply of gold. It was carried to Sofala (now in Mozambique) on the coast, and then continued on by sea to Kilwa and northern ports.
Kilwa acted as a depot for these goods and stored the others it needed for exchange. To the mainland traders, Kilwa supplied the products prized in the interior – cowries shells, local cotton fabric and beads, as well as items from abroad, especially Indian cloth. From the north and north east of the India Ocean – from Southern Arabia, the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf and India, woodes dhows sailed southward with products form the Islamic world and Far East. These merchants sought first, from Kilwa’s bounty, gold and ivory, then purchased from among its other merchandise. Kilwa received India fabrics and precious ceramics in linked to its ability to dominate this trade.
THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
2.1 Location
Kilwa district is located in Lindi Region in southern Tanzania. It lies on latitude 8020 to 9056 and longitude 38036 to 39050 east of Greenwich. To the north it borders with Rufiji district, Coast region, Lindi and Ruangwa districts in the south, Liwale district in the west and to the east, it borders with Indian Ocean. The total district area is 13, 347.50 squire Kilometers (1,334,750 ha) of which 12, 125.9 squire kilometers is surface land and 1,221.52 squire kilometers is the ocean. The tatol population in 2002 was 171, 057 living in 36,549 households. It is administratively divided into 6 divisions, 20 wards and 97 registered villages (Masoko and Kivinje urban areas inclusive).
Kilwa district is located in Lindi Region in southern Tanzania. It lies on latitude 8020 to 9056 and longitude 38036 to 39050 east of Greenwich. To the north it borders with Rufiji district, Coast region, Lindi and Ruangwa districts in the south, Liwale district in the west and to the east, it borders with Indian Ocean. The total district area is 13, 347.50 squire Kilometers (1,334,750 ha) of which 12, 125.9 squire kilometers is surface land and 1,221.52 squire kilometers is the ocean. The tatol population in 2002 was 171, 057 living in 36,549 households. It is administratively divided into 6 divisions, 20 wards and 97 registered villages (Masoko and Kivinje urban areas inclusive).
2.2 Climate
Kilwa district has a coastal climate which is hot and humid with the average temperature range between 220C to 300C. Humidity is high, nearly 98-100% during the long rains. The district receives a total rainfall of 800-1400 mm/year and its distribution varies according to locality. The land north of Kilwa Masoko receives 1000-1400 mm, while that to the south receives less, about 800-1400 mm/year. The period of rainfall coincide with the onset of each monsoon; the long rains (Masika), from about Mid-march to May, and the short rains (Vuli) from about late October to December. Climate data available from Meteorological department in Kilwa have summarized in table 1, 2, 3 and 4 below.
Kilwa district has a coastal climate which is hot and humid with the average temperature range between 220C to 300C. Humidity is high, nearly 98-100% during the long rains. The district receives a total rainfall of 800-1400 mm/year and its distribution varies according to locality. The land north of Kilwa Masoko receives 1000-1400 mm, while that to the south receives less, about 800-1400 mm/year. The period of rainfall coincide with the onset of each monsoon; the long rains (Masika), from about Mid-march to May, and the short rains (Vuli) from about late October to December. Climate data available from Meteorological department in Kilwa have summarized in table 1, 2, 3 and 4 below.
THE MAIN ECONOMIC SECTORS
The economy of Kilwa district hinges on crop production, livestock keeping, fishing, trade and to a very limited extent on industrial activities. Like in most districts in Tanzania, Kilwa residents and their District Council draw a substantial amount of income and food from small holder cultivators. The most popular crops are cashew nuts, simsim and coconuts. There is not much cash generated from maize, cassava and rice as these are dairy cattle, is on the increase. Marginal contribution in council revenue comes form seaweed farming, an activity that is attaining economic significance as the market grows. The average per capital income is estimated to Tshs 150,000/= per year.
The economy of Kilwa district hinges on crop production, livestock keeping, fishing, trade and to a very limited extent on industrial activities. Like in most districts in Tanzania, Kilwa residents and their District Council draw a substantial amount of income and food from small holder cultivators. The most popular crops are cashew nuts, simsim and coconuts. There is not much cash generated from maize, cassava and rice as these are dairy cattle, is on the increase. Marginal contribution in council revenue comes form seaweed farming, an activity that is attaining economic significance as the market grows. The average per capital income is estimated to Tshs 150,000/= per year.
Crop Markets
Marketing of agricultural products is constrained mainly by bad roads particularly during the rain season and low prices offered by businessmen in the free market.
Marketing of agricultural products is constrained mainly by bad roads particularly during the rain season and low prices offered by businessmen in the free market.
Irrigation
The area with potential for irrigation is estimated to be 4332 ha, however only 80 (1.8%) Ha are currently irrigated. Matandu valley is one of the best agricultural areas which covers 3,552 Ha. With an exception of Makangaga, no reasonable attempts have been made to exploit the agricultural potentiality of this valley.
The area with potential for irrigation is estimated to be 4332 ha, however only 80 (1.8%) Ha are currently irrigated. Matandu valley is one of the best agricultural areas which covers 3,552 Ha. With an exception of Makangaga, no reasonable attempts have been made to exploit the agricultural potentiality of this valley.
Livestock
Kilwa people are traditionally non livestock keepers save for small stock of goats and poultry kept by the local communities. In 1996, Kilwa district had 1,436 cattle, 4,879 goats and 5000 sheep. In the past two years pastoralist and agro pastoralist have migrated in Kilwa from the northern and western circuits in the country, bringing with them large herds of cattle. In 2006 alone Kilwa district received 11,902 cattle, 313 goats and 143 sheep from Mbeya region. This has brought the number of livestock kept in Kliwa today to be 12,336 catle, 5,192 goats and 5,143 sheep. 5,000 more cattle are on the way coming. Table below shows the distribution of newly received livestock in Kilwa district.
Kilwa people are traditionally non livestock keepers save for small stock of goats and poultry kept by the local communities. In 1996, Kilwa district had 1,436 cattle, 4,879 goats and 5000 sheep. In the past two years pastoralist and agro pastoralist have migrated in Kilwa from the northern and western circuits in the country, bringing with them large herds of cattle. In 2006 alone Kilwa district received 11,902 cattle, 313 goats and 143 sheep from Mbeya region. This has brought the number of livestock kept in Kliwa today to be 12,336 catle, 5,192 goats and 5,143 sheep. 5,000 more cattle are on the way coming. Table below shows the distribution of newly received livestock in Kilwa district.
Forestry
The physiognomic structure of the vegetation has been described earlier. Designated forest reserves in Kilwa district cover a total area of 207,590 Ha. This is 15 percent of the districts total land. Out of this 15,410 Ha are mangrove forest reserves. The reserves consist primary of miombo woodland, endowed with log gable tree species. The distribution of forest reserves in the district is shown in the table below:-
Fisheries
Fish is the main sources of protein in the district. Virtually all production is from the marine fisheries. The coastal fisheries, which support around 1905 fishermen and 982 fishing vessels is almost entirely dependent on traditional methods and gear (artisans fishing) including boats, mashuas, daus, ngalawa and dung out Canoes. An estimate of fish catches from fisheries department in 2006 totaled 29,460 tons and is illustrated in the table below:-
The physiognomic structure of the vegetation has been described earlier. Designated forest reserves in Kilwa district cover a total area of 207,590 Ha. This is 15 percent of the districts total land. Out of this 15,410 Ha are mangrove forest reserves. The reserves consist primary of miombo woodland, endowed with log gable tree species. The distribution of forest reserves in the district is shown in the table below:-
Fisheries
Fish is the main sources of protein in the district. Virtually all production is from the marine fisheries. The coastal fisheries, which support around 1905 fishermen and 982 fishing vessels is almost entirely dependent on traditional methods and gear (artisans fishing) including boats, mashuas, daus, ngalawa and dung out Canoes. An estimate of fish catches from fisheries department in 2006 totaled 29,460 tons and is illustrated in the table below:-
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