Babati District is located below the Equator between latitudes 3° and 4° South and longitudes 35° and 36° E. The land surface is characterized by several undulating hills and mountains as part of the East African Rift Valley Highlands. Babati District is divided by the Dabil-Dareda escarpment of the Rift Valley, providing diverse climatic and agroecological conditions due to a wide range of altitudes from 950 m to 2450 m. Most of the soils are of volcanic origin and range from sandy loam to clay alluvial soils.
In the lower flat lands, like around Lakes Babati and Manyara, alkaline soils predominate. Five agroecological zones characterize the district.
About 90% of the population of Babati District lives in rural areas and depends 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 and 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 comprises local breeds of cattle, sheep, goats, chickens, and cows. Cattle are widely used for draught, for example, pulling carts or plowing fields.
