Animal resources ministry moves to eradicate tsetse flies
THE agriculture and animal resources ministry has launched a project to eradicate tsetse flies in the central and eastern parts of the country.
By Gladys Kalibbala
THE agriculture and animal resources ministry has launched a project to eradicate tsetse flies in the central and eastern parts of the country.
The Creation of sustainable tsetse and trypanosomiasis free areas is being funded by African Development Bank.
The two-year project will later involve earial spraying for total eradication of tsetse flies, according to the project co-ordinator, Fredrick Luyimbazi.
So far, over 113,706 tsetse fly traps, 572 bicycles and an unspecified number of motorcycles have been distributed in 12 districts to help in the fight against tsetse flies.
Mayuge, Iganga, Jinja, Mukono, plus other district eastern part of the country are the most affected. Tsetse flies cause nagana in animals and sleeping sickness in humans.
Experts explained that the tsetse flies and diseases that result, hurt farmers income in the affected areas.
Community volunteers have been trained to help in the sensitisation and setting of tsetse traps.
Each each sub-county has far received 900 traps.
“We ask them to clear the bushes around them because it is where the flies hide,†he said.
While on inspection in Mukono, Mayuge and Iganga districts last Friday, Luyimbazi urged farmers to use the traps and pour-on drugs to suppress the tsetse flies.
He noted that this would increase household income.
“Health animals produce more the milk, thus, giving a chance to farmers to earn more,†he said.
The animals which are being sprayed once in a month will be required to go through this exercise for six months. At Kibanga village in Ntenjeru sub-county, Mukono district, Margaret Wasswa the LC1 C/Person said farmers are now able to send their children to school because they have the money.
“The project has helped us shoot two birds with one stone because as we fight the tsetse flies, we also increase on our income,†she noted.
THE agriculture and animal resources ministry has launched a project to eradicate tsetse flies in the central and eastern parts of the country.
The Creation of sustainable tsetse and trypanosomiasis free areas is being funded by African Development Bank.
The two-year project will later involve earial spraying for total eradication of tsetse flies, according to the project co-ordinator, Fredrick Luyimbazi.
So far, over 113,706 tsetse fly traps, 572 bicycles and an unspecified number of motorcycles have been distributed in 12 districts to help in the fight against tsetse flies.
Mayuge, Iganga, Jinja, Mukono, plus other district eastern part of the country are the most affected. Tsetse flies cause nagana in animals and sleeping sickness in humans.
Experts explained that the tsetse flies and diseases that result, hurt farmers income in the affected areas.
Community volunteers have been trained to help in the sensitisation and setting of tsetse traps.
Each each sub-county has far received 900 traps.
“We ask them to clear the bushes around them because it is where the flies hide,†he said.
While on inspection in Mukono, Mayuge and Iganga districts last Friday, Luyimbazi urged farmers to use the traps and pour-on drugs to suppress the tsetse flies.
He noted that this would increase household income.
“Health animals produce more the milk, thus, giving a chance to farmers to earn more,†he said.
The animals which are being sprayed once in a month will be required to go through this exercise for six months. At Kibanga village in Ntenjeru sub-county, Mukono district, Margaret Wasswa the LC1 C/Person said farmers are now able to send their children to school because they have the money.
“The project has helped us shoot two birds with one stone because as we fight the tsetse flies, we also increase on our income,†she noted.