Babati Rural District is a

district A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or county, counties, several municipality, municipa ...

of Manyara Region of

Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands ...

, East Africa. The administrative capital of the district is Babati town, south of

Arusha Arusha City is a Tanzanian city and the regional capital of the Arusha Region, with a population of 416,442 plus 323,198 in the surrounding Arusha District Council (2012 census). Located below Mount Meru on the eastern edge of the eastern b ...

. The district covers an area of , a large proportion (640 km²) 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 Arusha City is a Tanzanian city and the regional capital of the Arusha Region, with a population of 416,442 plus 323,198 in the surrounding Arusha District Council (2012 census). Located below Mount Meru on the eastern edge of the eastern ...

, to the south east by Simanjiro District, to the south by

Dodoma Region Dodoma Region (''Mkoa wa Dodoma'' in Swahili) is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions. The regional capital is the city of Dodoma. The region is located in central Tanzania, it is bordered by Singida Region to the west; Manyara Region ...

, to the south west by Hanang District, and to the north west by Mbulu District. Babati Urban District is located within the 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 1 October 1985. Babati District became autonomous in July 1986 as a District Council. According to the 2012 Tanzania National Census, the population of the Babati District was 312,392. The District Commissioner of Babati District is Hadija R.R. Nyembo.

Geography and agriculture

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 The East African Rift (EAR) or East African Rift System (EARS) is an active continental rift zone in East Africa. The EAR began developing around the onset of the Miocene, 22–25 million years ago. In the past it was considered to be part of a ...

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.

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.

Administrative subdivisions

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 The Arri Group () is a German manufacturer of motion picture film equipment. Based in Munich, the company was founded in 1917. It produces professional motion picture cameras, lenses, lighting and post-production equipment. Hermann Simon menti ...

* Ayasanda *

Bashnet Bashnet is an administrative ward in Babati District of Manyara Region of Tanzania. According to the 2002 census, the ward has a total population of 17,298. References Babati District Wards of Manyara Region {{Manyara-geo-stub ...

* Boay *

Dabil Dabil is an administrative ward in the Babati Rural District of the Manyara Region of Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the ...

Dareda Dareda is an administrative ward and a town in the Babati Rural District of the Manyara Region of Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa w ...

Duru Duru is a ward and a village in Babati Rural District of the Manyara Region of Tanzania. Duru is one of the five villages that makes up Duru ward. Thus, the name Duru is also the name of the administrative ward. The ward comprises five village ...

* Endakiso *

Gallapo Gallapo is a town and an administrative ward in the Babati Rural District of the Manyara Region of Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa ...

* Gidas *

Kiru Kiru may refer to: *''Kill!'', a 1968 Japanese film directed by Kihachi Okamoto * Kiru, Iran * Kiru, Hormozgan (disambiguation), Iran * Kiru, Kenya *Kiru, Nigeria *Kiru (Tanzanian ward) Kiru is an administrative ward in the Babati Rural Distri ...

Madunga Madunga is an administrative ward in the Kongwa district of the Dodoma Region of Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African ...

* Magara *

Magugu Magugu is an administrative ward in the Babati district of the Manyara Region of Tanzania. According to the 2002 census, the ward has a total population of 23,682. It is famous for its aromatic rice. Location Magugu lies north of Babati, west ...

Mamire Mamire is an administrative ward in the Babati District of the Manyara Region of Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African ...

Mwada Mwada is an administrative ward in the Babati District of the Manyara Region of Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African G ...

* Nar * Nkaiti *

Qash Qash is an administrative ward in the Kongwa district of the Manyara Region of Tanzania. According to the 2012 census, the ward has a total population of 19,549. References Babati District Wards of Manyara Region {{Manyara-geo-stub ...

Riroda Riroda is an administrative ward in the Kongwa district of the Manyara Region of Tanzania. According to the 2012 census, the ward has a total population of 12,179. References Babati District Wards of Manyara Region {{Manyara-geo-st ...

* Ufana

Notes

External links

*
KEFW Babati Link Group website
* {{Authority control Districts of Manyara Region