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Under a scorching sun, Moses Oleseki scans the cracked earth where a waterhole once brimmed with life. His herd of cows, goats and sheep lazily roam behind him, their protruding ribs visible beneath thinning hides.
“We used to have a lot of grass in this area,” the 47-year-old Maasai pastoralist said. “Now, we have to walk miles to find water and pastures. It is very disturbing.”
Pastoralists across Africa are grappling with recurring drought spells that have denuded rangeland. The worsening impacts of climate change, overgrazing and land conversion for agriculture and development are driving the continent's grasslands to the edge, threatening food security and livelihoods.
From the Sahel to the Horn of Africa, herders watch helplessly as their livestock perish. “We are seeing declining forage quality, rising livestock deaths and increased vulnerability to disease,” said Theo Akpensuen, a scientist with the Global Farm Platform. “The entire pastoral economy is at risk.”
Amid the crisis, a quiet revolution is taking root.
In a small research plot at the Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology in Tanzania’s northern Arusha city, Martha Mbaga kneels beside a patch of unusually lush green grass. Here, flowering legumes intersperse with deep-rooted herbs, forming a 'multispecies sward' — a diverse mix of plants designed to thrive in harsh conditions.
"Unlike monocultures that strip the soil, these plants work together," she explains, plucking a nitrogen-rich clover leaf. "They retain moisture, fix nutrients and provide year-round fodder for livestock."
The concept, widely used in Europe and North America, is still new to African pastoralists. Mixed pastures improve milk yields, enhance animal health and reduce reliance on costly fertilisers. Scientists like Mbaga believe the model could help revive Africa’s grazing lands — if adapted to local conditions.
Despite its promise, persuading herders like Oleseki to embrace multispecies swards is no easy task. "My father and grandfather always swept the herds to find the grass," says Oleseki. "How can I plant what I have always chased?"
Awareness remains the biggest challenge. Many herders have never seen or heard of multispecies swards and Tanzania’s underfunded agricultural extension services offer little support. Policy gaps also slow adoption.
"We need government investment, research tailored to local soils, and incentives for farmers to transition," said Jane Mwangi, an agronomist with the Tanzania’s Wildlife Research Institute.
But where institutions lag, individual herders pitch in.
In the drought-hit Uyogo village perched in the northwestern Shinyanga region, Amina Ng’umbi, a mother of five, was among the first to experiment with new grazing techniques. For years, she struggled to keep her cattle alive, watching helplessly as drought after drought wiped out her herd.
Then, a visiting agricultural officer introduced her to resilient forage crops like Napier grass and lablab bean. Skeptical but desperate, she planted a small patch behind her home.
"In the beginning, I showed the stuff to my neighbours, they all laughed out loudly," she recalls. "They said I was wasting time. But when my cows stopped losing weight and my milk doubled, they started asking where I got the seeds."
Amina’s success is not unique. Across Africa, pastoralists, long afflicted by drought are discovering that with the right tools, survival is possible—even in the face of climate change.
Tanzania is not alone in its fight to save grazing lands. Across the continent, different innovations are taking root, offering a glimpse of what the future could look like.
In Senegal’s Ferlo region, herders like Moussa Diop have adopted controlled grazing, fencing off sections of pasture to allow grass to regenerate.
"Before, we moved without a plan," Diop said. "Now, we know when to move, where to go and how long to stay."
The result is always good. A 30 per cent increase in forage availability, even in dry months.
Similar efforts are emerging in Namibia, Ethiopia and Somalia — from reseeding programmes to climate-smart grazing corridors. The message is clear: Africa’s pastoralists are adapting, and science is helping them do it.
Tanzania has one of Africa’s largest livestock industries, with 36 million cattle and millions more goats and sheep. Yet, the sector keeps underperforming, hampered by land degradation, poor market access and outdated practices.
The government of Tanzania has included sustainable livestock management in its Livestock Master Plan, focusing on improved rangeland management, market linkages and climate adaptation strategies.
One of the flagship initiatives under the plan is the introduction of subsidised drought-resistant fodder, aimed at helping herders sustain their livestock during prolonged dry spells.
Market access is another key pillar of the strategy, with the government working to strengthen value chains, improve livestock infrastructure and open new trade opportunities.
However, more investment is needed to fully realise the potential of the livestock sector, experts argued.
In Simanjiro, Oleseki has started to see the first signs of change. Encouraged by the success of other pastoralists in the area, he planted a small patch of lablab bean near his homestead. Within months, the results were undeniable — his cattle are gaining weight, and the soil, once barren, is sprouting green shoots.
"The land is responding; may be we still have a future here, who knows?," he said.
His cattle graze peacefully — a rare moment of calm in a harsh landscape. The challenges remain daunting, but for the first time in years, there is hope to revive Africa's dying grasslands and protecting its pastoralists.
