Tanzania can significantly boost its livestock sector's economic contribution with a comprehensive plan that emphasizes climate-smart strategies and innovations, according to a new report by the World Bank. The 21st Tanzania Economic Update, titled "Harnessing the Opportunity for a Climate-Smart and Competitive Livestock Sector in Tanzania," recommends backing such a plan with at least $546 million in public investments over the next five years. This annual investment of approximately $109 million represents a fivefold increase over previous budgets and a 50 percent increase from the 2023/24 budget.
“The demand for livestock products has risen over the years as a result of urbanization, income growth, and changing lifestyles and diets. This has led to increased consumption which presents an important opportunity and risks for the sector,” said Nathan Belete, World Country Director. “There is a real opportunity to capitalize on the growing internal market while simultaneously exploring avenues for export expansion for sectoral growth and international competitiveness in a sustainable and climate-smart manner.”
Tanzania has one of the fastest-growing livestock populations in Africa and the world. It is estimated that the country currently possesses 36.6 million heads of cattle, making it the second largest cattle population in Africa after Ethiopia. This represents 1.4 percent of the global cattle population and 11 percent of the African total. Tanzania also has substantial populations of sheep, goats, chickens, and pigs, ranking it among the top ten on the continent in terms of overall livestock size. The sector provides income-generating opportunities throughout the value chain, employing 33 percent of the population or 4.6 million households.
Despite this, Tanzania's exports remain below their potential, highlighting challenges in fully capitalizing on the sector's economic potential to generate jobs and contribute to poverty reduction.
According to report authors, Tanzania’s pasture-based livestock sector faces serious challenges due to climate change, including erratic rainfall and higher temperatures. Endemic livestock diseases further constrain the sector by impacting animal health, productivity, and market access. Structural and institutional challenges that intersect with climate risks hamper productivity and competitiveness while disproportionately low public funding hinders investment in essential research, extension services, and infrastructure.
Furthermore, both globally and within Tanzania, the livestock sector is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions—particularly methane—which greatly contributes to climate change. Despite this impact, funding for methane reduction efforts remains minimal.
“Despite various challenges, the sector has strong growth potential and plays an important role for Tanzanian livelihoods,” said Ernest Ruzindaza, World Bank Senior Agricultural Economist and co-author of the report. “The country's strategic location with sea access and borders with seven countries makes it well suited to meet regional and global demand for livestock products.”
The Update authors advocate for additional public investment incorporating climate-smart interventions aimed at reducing methane emissions by 13% while increasing protein production by 29% over six years. They recommend pursuing policies targeting productivity enhancement, trade facilitation value addition measures; climate adaptation; mitigation strategies; as well as improving governance within this crucial sector.