Subsistence Economies on the Mara River

The SELVA team found on our fieldtrip in March 2016, that subsistence communities are the majority of stakeholders in the lower Mara River Basin in Tanzania. Subsistence is an economic term that refers to when a person or people work to maintain themselves or support the community at the minimum level for survival. As mentioned in previous posts, the local people, mostly Kurya, keep livestock, farm, fish, and mine.

While some describe subsistence as extreme poverty, in the lower Mara context it reflects a deep cultural tradition of living off the land and river. The Mara River and its tributaries provide water for drinking, irrigation, livestock, and fishing. The wetlands provide reeds and grasses for building materials. The surrounding land supports small-scale agriculture of maize, sorghum, and vegetables.

The fish market in Musoma (Mara Region, Tanzania) is a vivid example of how the river underpins local economies. Fish caught in Lake Victoria and the Mara River are sold fresh and dried. This market supports dozens of families directly and connects to regional trade networks. Understanding and protecting this subsistence economy is central to SELVA's approach to water security.