Parliament blocks use of vectoclor acaricides on ticks

Parliament has barred the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), from using 600 liters of an acaricide called vectoclor to address the challenge of tick resistance in livestock across various parts of the country.

Acaricides are substances that kill members of the arachnid subclass like ticks and mites according to online sources.

The parliament decision followed an information paper by the state minister for animal industry, Joy Kabatsi, on steps taken to address acaricide resistance.

Kabatsi in her presentation said that due to confirmed presence of tick populations that are resistant to commonly used acaricides, a comprehensive proposal was developed for identified districts to address the problem.

"I met and held discussions with top officials of CEVA SANTE ANIMALE, a French pharmaceutical company that offered us 600 liters of an acaricide called vectoclor, that we want to try here as well because it has successfully been used in countries like Tanzania and DRC," said Kabatsi.

She said that the efficacy taste for the said acaricide that came into Uganda some weeks ago will be done in Kiruhura district on selected farms, after which another 6000 liters of the vectoclor will be imported in the next one month for a cleansing exercise in other severely affected districts.

However, the MPs said that the acaricide should not be used until a scientific taste is carried out to assess its impact and likely side effects before using it on the country's animals.

Hamson Obua (Ajuri county), warned that,  "Because we are not cautious, pharmaceutical companies from Western countries develop so called substances that have serious side effects that they donate to us for free and we pay through the nose later. I am reliably informed that this armyworm is a USA product spread intentionally so that we can buy their pesticides, so we can't just allow in 600 liters of untested chemicals."

Although first reported officially in 2010 when farmers from Kiruhura district observed that ticks were not dying after regular application of acaricides, the problem of tick resistance has been gradually developing over the last two decades.

MAAIF between 2012 and 2013 reported that about 60 head of cattle were dying from Tick Borne Diseases on a daily basis from Kiruhura district alone.

The districts of Kiruhura, Mbarara, Isingiro, Ntungamo, Bushenyi, Lyantonde, Sembabule, Rakai, Kiboga, Nakaseke, Luwero, Nakasongola, Kayunga, Masindi, Gomba, Kyankwanzi, Kyegegwa, Mitooma, Sheema, Rubirizi, Buhweju, Lwengo, Butambala, Mpigi, Wakiso, Mityana and Mubende have been identified as severely affected.

The loss of cattle on a daily basis due to Tick Borne Diseases is said to be causing the country a gross loss of between Shs48m and Shs60m per day which translates to about Shs18b annually.

Ministry of Agriculture estimates that the country incurs annual losses of about Shs307b (about $86m) due to live stock diseases with tick borne related diseases contributing about 70%.

Masaka municipality MP, Mathias Mpuuga said, "it an insult for an entire ministry to present a report addressing a challenge grossly affecting Ugandans, based on donations from an unknown pharmaceutical company, without researching about it and making thorough tastes on the substance offered before using it."

Uganda is said to have ideal weather conditions for survival of various tick specious like rhipicephalus appendiculatus, a vector causing East Coast Fever which is responsible for killing up to 30% indigenous animals and 100% untreated exotic and cross breed cattle.

The Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga, lashed out to Government for failing to address the tick challenge for over 10 years, saying that it is the highest level of unseriousness. She gave MAAIF up to one week to report back to parliament with a comprehensive report on how they will tackle tick resistance.

Vincent Ssempijja the agriculture minister agreed that there is need for a systematic and scientific approach to deal with the problem and committed to comply with the one week ultimatum.