Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The administrative
capital of the district is Babati town, 172 kilometres (107 mi) south of Arusha. The district
covers an area of 6,069 square kilometres (2,343 sq mi), a large proportion (640 sqkm) of which
is covered by the water bodies of Lake Babati, Lake Burunge and Lake Manyara. The district is
bordered to the north by Arusha Region, to the south east by Simanjiro District, to the south by
Dodoma Region, to the south west by Hanang District, and to the north west by Mbulu District.
Babati District was established by dividing the then Hanang District into two districts - Babati
and Hanang. The decision produced Babati District, which was officially documented in the
Government Official Gazette No. 403 on 1st October 1985. Babati District became autonomous
in July 1986 as a District Council.
According to the 2002 Tanzania National Census, the population of the Babati District was
303,013.[1]
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 pigs. Cattle are widely used
for draught, for example pulling carts or ploughing fields.
Public health
Only 44% out of the 96 villages have health facilities, such as dispensaries or health centers,
whereas the other villages are covered by mobile and outreach services, especially for mother
and child care/services.[3]
Administrative subdivisions
Babati District is administratively divided into 4 divisions, 21 wards and 96 villages.
Divisions