Maasai Women Turn Drought into Income by Growing Drought-Resistant Fodder

In Selela village, Monduli district, northern Tanzania, Nesirkar Loongidong’i, a 30-year-old Maasai mother of four, lost most of her goats to drought. With few options left, she turned to growing and selling drought-resistant hay for livestock feed. “Now people from other villages come to buy my grass. I am no longer afraid of drought,” she told Al Jazeera. With the income from grass, she built a tin-roofed house and bought back five goats.

Loongidong’i’s story is part of a rapidly spreading shift in northern Tanzania. Maasai women—a community of about 430,000 people—are turning hay cultivation from a survival measure into a climate-adaptation business. The work is coordinated by the Pastoral Women’s Council (PWC), a member-led organization run by women, operating in three northeastern districts, covering over 28,000 square kilometers and serving roughly 456,000 people, mostly Maasai. Founded in 1997, PWC now has about 6,500 members across 90 villages, focusing on land rights, economic empowerment, and girls’ education.

According to Tanzania’s Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, from September 2021 to January 2022 alone, at least 306,358 livestock—including cattle, goats, sheep, and donkeys—died due to prolonged drought. In Simanjiro district, 92,047 animals were lost. In response, PWC established 10 major grass seed banks in eight villages across Monduli and Longido districts. Currently, about 75 hectares are cultivated for fodder, with an additional 37 hectares expected to be brought into production in the 2025–2026 season. Around 250 women directly manage these farms, while thousands of herders rely on this feed source during the dry season.

In 2025, a single seed bank collected 6.6 million Tanzanian shillings (about USD 2,500) from seed sales, along with 1,111 hay bales sold at 6,000 shillings (USD 2.30) each. For many women, this has transformed their roles from dependents into economic providers. With support from organizations such as the Global Fund for Women, Oxfam, Justdiggit, Trees for the Future, and Swissaid, PWC’s model is seen as scalable to protect the multi-million-dollar livestock economy.

From Survival to Business

In Longido and Monduli, as traditional grazing lands weaken due to drought, Maasai women are taking on new roles. They grow drought-tolerant grasses such as Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) and Masai love grass (Eragrostis superba) on community land plots. Loongidong’i explains: “Seeds are saved and exchanged as demand increases. This cycle is supporting many households in arid areas.” These managed grasslands become lifelines for livestock during dry seasons.

“Women who were once entirely dependent on their husbands now have their own income,” said Rachel Letiety, a founding member of PWC. “Families have become more stable. Men are beginning to value women’s contributions, especially during drought periods.”

Challenges Remain

Loongidong’i notes that some farms suffer from weeds and damaged fences, allowing livestock and wildlife to intrude and destroy crops. She recounted: “I have seen invasive plants ruin most of the farm. And sometimes animals come in and destroy what we have worked on for months. It’s not easy to guard these fields every day.” There are also tensions within groups over responsibility and income-sharing.

Nairiyamu Laizer, a mother of three and secretary of the Naisho group, said: “This work prevents our livestock from dying and keeps them healthy. If all women seize this opportunity, projects can boost our economy.” Currently, with NGO support, about 200 women are directly involved, and thousands benefit indirectly during dry seasons.

For Loongidong’i and many Maasai women, growing hay is no longer just about survival. It is a new beginning, reshaping livelihoods and women’s status in pastoral life. “Now women help bring money home, and families become more stable,” she said.