Land is a scarce resource on which all human activities take place. In essence this is the fact that makes land to have value. Apart from other activities which are all based on land, in Tanzania about 80% of its people live in rural areas where they depend on land for their livelihood i.e. to get food through peasantry and all their income is from land.

Valuation is an art or science that is required for the estimation of values be it value of land or other items. Being a ministry that deals with land administration valuation is very important and the ministry has therefore a section dealing with valuation. Another importance of land valuation is to assist in making proper decisions on land administration issues.

On day-to-day land administration, valuation may be required for purposes including:

• Advise to buyers and sellers
• Rental assessment
• Mortgage
• Land rent and other assessment including duties and fees.
• General accounting purposes
• Estimating compensation during land acquisition

Valuation Section is under the Chief Government Valuer who is one of the Assistants to the Commissioner for Lands.