TIMBER FARMING  

DOMESTIC INVESTORS OF TREE PLANTING, LAND TRANSACTIONS AND IMPRESSIONS ON GENDER IN SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS, TANZANIA

Following the urbanization growth, the regional demand for construction materials i.e. poles and timbers from Eucalyptus and Pinus tree species piled up, exceeding the capacity of supply from Sao Hill plantations, by then the only largest supplier. To cover the deficit, the construction industries from Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda resorted to few existing private woodlots most of which belonged to smallholders. Early sells by smallholders were at high prices, which connoted tree planting a lucrative business. Thus many people, companies and institutions resorted to purchase land for tree planting, the surge that influenced Timber rush research. This study analysed empirical research on transactions of village land for planting timber trees hence timber farming and its implications to members of local communities of the Southern Highlands of Tanzania.

I started the research on land transactions for tree planting in October 2017, the research that took me to three regions; Iringa, Njombe and Ruvuma. In Iringa I did my research in Mufindi and Kilolo Districts. In Njombe I went to Njombe, Wanging’ombe and Makete Districts while in Ruvuma I went to Madaba of Songea District. As for academic outputs, the research has come up with five main typologies of domestic investors, motives for land transactions among smallholders and implications of land transactions to involved households of Southern highlands Tanzania.  

A wind of change is still blowing in the Southern Highlands, whereas Avocado tree (Hass variety) planting is currently taking its pace along with trees like Pine and Eucalyptus species. In the foreground of the picture are trees of Avocado and in the background are Eucalyptus trees in Njombe Town Council, Njombe Region.

A picture illustrating the scattered field plots under different managements:In the foreground are the young Avocado trees, followed by a plot of Eucalyptus tree, and burnt small sized holding in the background. Unwise use of fire, apparently could gush all these trees/ crops into ashes! Avocado-trees-fire photo taken by Dr. J. Nsenga

In spite of strong support from government and development partners tree planting on village land expanded slowly in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania from late 1970’s to the mid 2000’s. While forest cover has dramatically increased from 6 to 174 thousand hectare during the past decade.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17G7uKIZKgs&feature=emb_logo

Timber Rush investigates the scale and drivers of the current investments in land and timber in Tanzania, testing the hypothesis that investments are first and foremost driven by domestic factors related to increased market demand for timber for industrial use, particularly construction, nationally and in the East African region photo was taken by Daniel Masunzu. Read more ...

A new article, ‘A typology of domestic private land-based investors in Africa: Evidence from Tanzania’s timber rush', aims at improving our understanding of the diversity of domestic land-based investments during crop booms in Africa. It is based on empirical research into land transactions in Tanzania’s Southern Highlands. Read more ...

Timber Rush Project Team sharing some of research findings with SUA students during the Nane Nane Exhibitions (August 6, 2020) photo was taken by Daniel Masunzu

A policy seminar aimed at getting feedback on a draft policy brief ‘Getting smallholder tree growers out of poverty’ was conducted on 3^rd July 2020 at the Institute of Continuing Education (ICE), Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA). The policy seminar was organized by the College of Social Sciences and Humanities (CSSH) in collaboration with the Timber Rush Project, a DANIDA funded research project implemented in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. The policy seminar was attended by a total of 18 participants from various academic departments of SUA. photo was taken by Daniel Masunzu

In the front row, the first from left is Prof. S.Z.K. Mvena, who moderatorated the seminar. On his left is Prof. D. L. Mwaseba, the coordinator of TR project.  Next to him in red hijab, is Dr. Fatihiya Massawe, the Head of Department of Policy Planning and Management (PPM), also represented the Principal of the College of Social Sciences and Humanities (CSSH). Next to Dr. Fatihiya is Respikius Martin, a PhD student under the Department of PPM, followed by Dr. Suzana S. Nyanda, Prof. David Mhando and lastly Prof. Yonika Ngaga from the Forest Economics Department, photo was taken by Daniel Masunzu

In her opening remarks, the Guest of Honour Dr. Fatihiya Massawe, informed the seminar participants that the CSSH is mandated by the University to play a leading role with regard to policy issues pertaining to the National Development Strategies. Dr. F. Massawe viewed the policy seminar as a step towards fulfilling its mandate. She further commended the good initiative by the project team to develop the policy brief for communicating research findings to policy makers, an aspect that has not been addressed by various SUA-based research projects. Building on the remarks by the Guest of Honour, Prof. Dismas Mwaseba, the Coordinator of the Timber Rush Project, gave a short presentation on the project.

Prof. Dismas Mwaseba, giving a short presentation on the project

In his presentation, Prof. D. Mwaseba shared the overall aim of the research project that is vying to contribute to a more equitable distribution of benefits from private plantations on village land through evidence-based policy making. In addition, Prof. D. Mwaseba also informed the invited participants that the project is now in its final year of its implementation. He went on to inform the seminar participants that the policy brief to be presented is on the value chain; pointing out key policy related findings on how smallholder tree growers can benefit more along the timber value chain so as to get out of poverty.

Prof. David Mhando presenting key findings for the policy brief ,photo was taken by Daniel Masunzu

Pertinent contributions were made by the participants. In his closing remarks, the Timber Rush Project Coordinator commended the inputs provided by the participants and he said these will be considered in the course of revising the policy brief for clarity.

Policy brief seminar participants following up the presentation, photo was taken by Daniel Masunzu

Mr Lusasi preseTitle: Land Acquisition for tree planting by Domestic Investors and Impacts on Rural Communities: The case of Southern Highlands, Tanzania CSSH Board Meeting, photo was taken by Daniel Masunzu

Mr. Justin Lusasi left  (PhD student) administering a questionnaire to one of respondents (Mr. Francis Lyungu),meanwhile taking all the precautions against the Covid-19 Pandemic in Matembwe village, Njombe District.photo photo was taken by Daniel Masunzu

Local treatment of  timbers being undertaken by some of traders at Kambarage Open Market in Njomber Region in the struggle towards value addition to their forest products.