Kenya agriculture sector contributes 24% of the country’s GDP, of which 12% is contributed by the livestock sub-sector. According to a report by ILRI, 80% of all livestock reared in Kenya are affected by biting flies such as tsetse flies, and they form a major cause of losses in the agricultural sector, which amounts to KES 30 billion annually. Furthermore, areas affected by tsetse flies are not habitable which affects the production of crops.
The flies normally bite the cows’ udders and side and, in the process, transmit trypanosomiasis, (sleeping sickness) in humans, and Nagana in livestock.Currently, tsetse flies are controlled by spraying animals with chemicals (acaricides). This approach has many disadvantages both to the farmers, the livestock and the consumers of animal products, since the chemical residues end up in the products, consumed from the animals. Farmers also lack awareness of the toxicity of these chemicals and do not protect themselves when spraying, hence exposing themselves to health risks.
Most of these flies and other disease carrying vectors have overtime become resistant to the acaricides and other interventions are required.
“Developing interventions that naturally fight these pests involves a detailed study of the pest, to understand its chemical ecology, molecular biology, development and behavior, and consequently coming up with an approach that aims at managing its breeding, shortens its life cycle, repels it from the host or attracts it to a killing agent,” says Dr Masiga.
Scientists at icipe have come up with an effective & simple way to control the tsetse fly. This technology involves controlled release of potent repellents from a collar (specifically designed to facilitate the release of the repellents at a constant rate) that individual cattle wear encircling their necks. The collar contains a strong-smelling serum that repels flies pushing them away to coloured traps laced with chemicals that lure and kill them. “The repellents have been identified from synthetic sources and from natural blends of animals that tsetse find unattractive (e.g. waterbuck) which are common in tsetse habitats but not fed upon, explains Dr Okal. The technology that has been tested in Kwale in the coastal region of Kenya will improve the livelihoods of hundreds of farmers who depend on livestock production. Farmers at Kwale county who have used the collar have appreciated its effectiveness in protecting their cattle. One such farmer is Chiliku Mweru one of the pioneer farmers that have benefited from the innovation.
“I use my cows to till land. Before the tsetse repellent collar, our animals were restless and it was impossible to use the animal for tilling; tsetse makes the animal restless and you have to set up a fire to repel the pest,” says Mweru. “Today I’m able to plough one acre of land in one day which was not possible when my cattle were infested by tsetse flies,” she adds.
These technologies are in demand, as farmers seek alternative approaches to fight the resistant pests, and Icipe is in the process of commercializing them. The center is creating awareness, on their existence and how to apply them, by developing adoption manuals, and ensuring accessibility by engaging government extension officers, in availing them to farmers.
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