Food security and animal-sourced food product consumption is still low in Tanzania, linked to malnutrition, especially among children under five years old. Moreover, the vast majority of the country’s extensive production of livestock for milk and meat still takes place in poor conditions, with slow growth, poor feed conversion efficiency and low yields. Milk and meat production in the drylands of Tanzania are facing several challenges including climate change, less productive indigenous cattle breeds, and the increasing shrinkage of livestock grazing lands. Climate change in the drylands of Tanzania is characterised by low and erratic rainfalls, and frequent drought recurrences leading to limited water and eventual pasture unavailability. Rapid human and livestock population growth under limited land use plans are escalating land degradation due to overgrazing and improper crop cultivation that accelerates vegetation cover loss, soil erosion, and desertification in the drylands of Tanzania. Unplanned migratory practices of herders have kept them in constant conflicts with other land users such as conservationists and crop growers in the country.

Therefore, the production of meat and milk among traditional herders in Tanzania faces several challenges as narrated above and its sustainability is debatable. This piece has suggested different measures to increase livestock production among traditional herders in Tanzania to enhance food security and protect the environment. These measures include selective breeding of indigenous livestock breeds, livestock marketing improvements and a countrywide network of well-coordinated grazing lands management plans to ensure pasture, water and market access. I argue that these measures would make the traditional/extensive livestock system more sustainable and mitigate food insecurity and conflicts among different land users in the country.