Strategies for prevention of Tilapia lake virus (TiLV) in Siaya and Usain Gishu counties
Geraldine Matolla, University of Elderet, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Kenya
Tilapia is the most popular fish species in Kenya (about 75 % of total aquaculture production). Kenya is on high alert to outbreaks of the Lake Virus disease. To minimize the risk of TiLV outbreak by creating awareness was the main objective of the project. A training workshop on fish disease diagnosis and surveillance was conducted. The training consisted of lectures, field visit to cage sites in Lake Victoria, laboratory analysis. Some recommendations for improved biosecurity plans on prevention and control of TiLV are also made.
African swine fever (ASF) eradication change project in Songea municipal, Ruvuma region of Tanzania
Seria Masole Shonyela, Department of Livestock and Fisheries, Tanzania
African Swine Fever (ASF) is an infectious disease affecting pigs with serious illness and high mortality. Prevention, control, and eradication of the disease is mainly based on early detection and implementation of strict sanitary measures. The disease is endemic in Sub-Saharan Africa. ASF is since 2012 the most important threat to pigs in the Ruvuma region of Tanzania. This project was conducted in collaboration with the Songea municipality in Ruvuma with the aim to develop prevention and control strategies of ASF. Training and knowledge transfer on relevant aspects of ASF was conducted through meetings attended by around 60 farmers, 25 butchers and 22 animal health professionals; production of an interactive training on ASF and pig posters on “ASF awareness”, distribution of posters and leaflets on ASF at markets, churches, and other events.
Establishment of sustainable Newcastle Disease (ND) vaccination programme to indigenous poultry in Kibaha district Coast Region in Tanzania
Alex Fidelis Chang’a, Tanzania Small Animal Veterinary Organization (TASAVO), Tanzania
The overall aim with the project was to improve farmers knowledge about poultry husbandry, biosecurity and vaccination against ND as measures to improve poultry productivity, food security and household income. The short-term objective was to make farmers in a pilot village vaccinate their poultry by identifying gaps which hinder a regular vaccination program of rural chicken, providing suitable vaccines, setting up a vaccination program adapted to local conditions and have training of farmers in poultry keeping, biosecurity and how to vaccinate.
The project found out that there is a lack of knowledge and training on how to control ND and the importance of use of vaccines, biosecurity, feeding and housing. There is also limited access to veterinarians. The use of community vaccinators is a good solution and can address the problems associated to the vaccination, such as purchase and storage of vaccines, and could also help in counting animals. The result from the project will be shared with the livestock officer who are responsible for animal health in the village so that they can develop a strategy to control ND in the village area.
Strengthening rural livelihoods and food security through improving poultry production in Mwankoko ward, Singida
Yohana Nungula, Sustainable Environment Management Action (SEMA), Tanzania
Newcastle disease (ND) is a big problem in rural areas where it leads to high mortality among chickens with consequences especially for people with low incomes. This project aimed to strengthen farmers understanding of ND outbreaks, spread and economic impact, measure farmers understanding of outbreak prevention and also implement an effective vaccination program. Regarding the vaccination there was a collaboration with Tanzania Veterinary Laboratory Agency. Focus group discussions were held with poultry farmers based on a questionnaire, and a three-days training with chicken keepers was also conducted. In collaboration with community leaders and community vaccinators counting of chickens and mass vaccination were performed.
Livestock farm biosecurity training and technical assistance for framers in Mukono, Kampala, Mbarara and Gomba districts in Uganda
Ivan Luwalaga, TTA Horticulture limited, Uganda
The project aimed to increase knowledge in livestock notifiable diseases, increase biosecurity and prevent disease outbreaks on farm and to reduce the use of antibiotics and thereby reduce residues in animal derived food products, with focus on poultry. A questionnaire to identify current practices and knowledge gaps was conducted among farmers, followed by training on farm bio security, productions practices, animal welfare and entrepreneurship. TTA Horticulture limited also offered technical and monitoring support. The project has resulted in increased production due to better biosecurity measures. Other services, such as cleaning services of stables, has been developed from the project. Other project such as biogas facilities are under development.
Implementing herd health programme for smallholder dairy farmers supplying Magoye Dairy Cooperative in Mazabuka, Zambia
Belinda Chilala, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Zambia
Magoye Dairy Cooperative is a society for smallholder farmers in southern Zambia. Currently, one of the challenges are livestock diseases and how to effectively manage them, because these diseases result in reduced productivity, and increased and indiscriminate use of antibiotics, leading to increased milk rejection due to antibiotic residues in milk. To prevent cattle diseases in the cooperative, the aim of this project was to develop a customised herd health management plan, taking into account animal health risks among the smallholder farms supplying milk to the cooperative. After exploring which livestock diseases are circulating in the area, disease preventive actions against the identified risk factors were identified as part of a heard health program. The implementation of the herd health program was however a challenge due to an outbreak of Foot and mouth disease and the serious drought situation, which lead to a severe drop in milk production. Farmers did not want to spend the reduced income on measures that do not lead to quick return.