Terrain
of Shinyanga-
The region is located in a drought prone
area Northwest of Tanzania, about 1,500 meters above sea level. The
region has a total of 50,264 square kilometers. The forest covers
4% of the land; bush covers 29% of the land; and the remaining 67% is
used for agriculture and grazing.
Climate in Shinyanga -
The average daily temperature is between 20 to 25
degrees celcius. High temperatures can range anywhere from 30 to 38
degreees celcius.
Shinyanga receives
600mm to 1000mm rainfall per year in two distinct seasons. The short
rain season begins in late October and continues into mid December.
The long rain season lasts from mid February to late May.
Agriculture
in Shinyanga-
Environmental destabliization is a major constraint to increased agricultural
production, forest products and food security in the region. Deforestation
exacerbated by excessive grazing, poor farming methods, shifting cultivation,
population pressure and uncontrolled cutting of trees have reduced soil
fertility, lowered water tables and increased scarcity of products for
cooking and building.
The predominant food crops of the
Shinyanga region are maize, cassava, paddy, groundnuts, sweet potatos,
and sorghum. Cotton is grown extensively as a cash crop.
Cattle, which outnumber humans by
a ratio of 3 to 1, is the main source of income and wealth. They are
used as dowries in addition to agriculture.
Natural
Resources of Shinyanga-
Many different types of wildlife
can be found in the Shinyanga region, including zebras, elephants, hippopotamus,
giraffes, lions, and monkeys.
Gold and diamonds
are the main mineral found in the region and are mined for export. Diamonds
make up about 24.3% of the total mineral for export in the country.
