FMD outbreak: Govt implores farmers to embrace cost sharing

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Livestock farmers across the country, effective next year are set to pick vaccination bills, against the dreaded foot and mouth (FMD) livestock disease.

The ever-growing livestock population across the country that now is in millions of cattle heads, over stretches the Government’s fiscal system to raise adequate funding for vaccines.    

Fisheries state minister Hellen Adoa disclosed that the cost is about sh12,000 per FMD dose per animal. Therefore, according to her, the Government can hardly hold the burden of procuring doses of the drug for the current estimated 44 million livestock population, Uganda hosts.

“Effective early next year, the Government implores individual livestock farmers to take up the burden of picking the bill for foot and mouth vaccination of their herds,” the minister stressed.

The Government, through the line ministry, Adoa further contended shall soon communicate digital system protocol that shall be used by farmers to access vaccines for their respective herds.    

Cattle taking water from communal drinking trouph in karamoja. (Courtesy)

She made the remarks on Friday, November 15, 2024, during a regional convention held at Mbale district headquarters hall, in Mbale city attended by civil and political leaders, veterinary officers and livestock farmer’s representatives.

The convention attracted representation from the districts of Kumi, Bukedea, Katakwi Bukedea, Namisinda, Bududa, and Mbale.

“As the Government vouches for a cost-sharing policy, it retains the role of procuring the drugs, owing to past bad experience. The ministry, on behalf of the Government is set to procure the drugs, to stamp out chances of compromising its efficacy,” she said.

Adoa stressed that the new development (cost-sharing) only applies to foot and mouth vaccination.

“The Government shall continue to provide other vaccines (such as rabies) free of charge to the public," she said.

Agriculture ministry regional vet inspector, Dr Robert Ojala, said apart from protecting the health of livestock and the public that are end tail consumers of livestock products, FMD vaccination is a priority requirement internationally.

“A nation with economic interests outside its national boundaries (the market for livestock and its product) must have a clean record in respect to observing mandatory vaccination schedules against the dreadful foot and mouth livestock epidemic,” he said. 

More than 4,000 goats from eastern Uganda alone are exported to southern Sudan every month.

“Among other conditions that must be honoured in the interstate livestock trade in the East African region, the animals in the transaction must have been vaccinated against FMD,” Ojala added.

Mixed reaction

Kumi district LC5 chairperson, Nelson Elungat, contended that the measure may not be fully embraced by livestock farmers particularly the poor, which may turn out to be catastrophic.

“Difference in opinion among farmers is bound to render the management of epidemic difficult.

A case in point, a committed farmer would consider vaccinating his animals and on the other hand his neighbour declines,” Elungat said.

Tororo district LC5 chairperson, James Okeya, regretfully observed that the new development comes when the district veterinary offices are the most, lowly funded departments by the Government.

“Farmer compliance on vaccination risks to exacerbate for veterinary departments faces challenges of movement. They barely have even motorcycles to take them around to carry out monitoring of sector activities,” he said.

On non-compliance among livestock farmers, the minister implored respective district local council leadership to come up with bylaws.

“Livestock farmers that comply with vaccinating their herds against the epidemic could be given certificates. A local council may decide not to allow people without vaccination certificates to participate in any cattle trade,” the minister suggested.

On poor funding, the minister noted that her ministry is considering scaling up votes for all district veterinary departments.