Babati District Council
Babati Rural District is one of the districts of Manyara Region in Tanzania, East Africa. The administrative capital of the region is the city of Babati, 172 km (107 mi) south of Arusha. The area covers an area of 6,069 km2 (2,343 sq mi), and a large proportion (640 km2) is covered by the water bodies of Lake Papati, Lake Burunge, and Lake Manyara. It is bordered on the north by Arusha Region, on the southeast by Semanjiro District, on the south by Dodoma Region, on the southwest by Hanang District, and on the northwest by Mbulu District. Babati metropolitan area is located within the district.
Babati district was created by dividing the then Hanang district into two districts – Babati and Hanang. The decision produced Babati district, which was officially documented in Government Gazette No. 403 on October 1, 1985. Babati district became independent in July 1986 as a local council.
According to the 2002 national census of Tanzania, Babati district had a population of 303,013. [1]
The Commissioner of Babati District is Mrs. Hadija.R.R Nyembo
Babati District is located below the Equator between latitude 3° and 4° South and longitude 35° and 36° E. The land surface is characterized by a number of undulating hills and mountains as part of the East African Rift Valley Highlands. Babati District is divided by the Dabil-Dareda escarpment of the Rift Valley, providing diverse climatic and agro-ecological conditions due to a wide range of altitudes from 950 m asl. to 2450 m asl. Most of the soils are of volcanic origin and range from sand loam to clay alluvial soils. In the lower flat lands, like around Lakes Babati and Manyara, alkaline soils predominate. Five agro-ecological zones characterize the district.
About 90% of the population of Babati District live in the rural areas and depend on agriculture and livestock for their livelihood. They are mostly small-scale farmers or agro-pastoralists practicing a semi-traditional farming system characterized by low use of farm inputs. Mixed crop-livestock, mostly maize-based systems are widely found in the district that are intercropped with varying species, such as common beans, pigeon peas and sunflowers, according to altitude and rainfall availability. In the lowlands, paddy rice is cultivated where irrigation is available. Livestock comprise local breeds of cattle, sheep, goats, chickens and cows. Cattle are widely used for draught, for example pulling carts or ploughing fields.
Babati District is administratively divided into 4 divisions, 21 wards and 96 villages.
Divisions
Babati, Gorowa, Mbugwe and Bashnet.
Wards
The 21 wards are:
Arri
Ayasanda
Bashnet
Boay
Dabil
Dareda
Duru
Endakiso
Gallapo
Gidas
Kiru
Madunga
Magara
Magugu
Mamire
Mwada
Nar
Nkaiti
Qash
Riroda
Ufana