Two major outbreaks of trypanosomiasis in cattle were successfully controlled in the FITCA project area in Western Kenya during the project lifetime. Tsetse fly numbers were reduced by 95% using odour-baited insecticide-impregnated targets. The targets were made, installed, maintained and monitored by the farming communities under the supervision of project and government staff.
Spraying of cattle with insecticide was introduced as the most suitable method for farmers to maintain tsetse control once the initial high fly numbers had been reduced by targets. Farmers’ groups were encouraged and assisted in erecting crush pens for spraying cattle and the sustainability of the tsetse control achieved will depend on the veterinary services ensuring that these farmers groups continue to spray at least 5 –10% of the livestock in infested areas every two weeks. Dairy cattle, though very limited in numbers in the project area, were protected from the disease through the use of insecticide impregnated netting around zero-grazing units.
Increased utilisation of farming land was promoted by the project as a means of decreasing tsetse habitat. Animal traction and improved crop production systems were important project interventions. Efforts were made to encourage private sector provision of animal health and AI services. The use of improved and upgraded breeds can provide farmers with more income from their livestock and thus enable them to sustain private animal health services and maintain tsetse control. However, lack of resources and no access to credit remained a major constraint to the adoption of new technologies in these very poor communities.
In its final year the Kenya project produced some useful extension material on
i) insecticide sprayed cattle for tsetse and tick control
ii) animal traction and
iii) calf rearing.
FITCA Information
Background
Main achievements Ethiopia Kenya Tanzania Uganda
