Farming in tsetse controlled areas OAU-IBAR eastern African regional programme..PDF

This document provides the details•for the Kenya component of the Kenya/Uganda regional proposal entitled "Farming in tsetse controlled areas". The overall objective of the . Kenya project is to improve the wetfine of the people of the region through sustainable rural development and the project purpose is increased livestock productivity. Increased livestock productivity will . be achieved in integrated crop/livestock production systems which will increase food security. Improved animal health, management and nutrition, and the gradual upgrading of the indigenous stock will result in an increase in livestock products. The programme will be implemented in Western Kenya in three districts bordering Uganda, which have a history of human sleeping sickness. The project districts have fertile soils and receive adequate rainfall and while over 95% of the land is used for agricultural :purposes, the majority of this is subsistence (inuring. Food production in the area can only 'be improved through intensification of the crop/livestock production systems. Trypanosomiasis has been identified as the major constraint to livestock productivity in the districts; the disease prohibits the use of traction and the efficient production of meat, milk and manure and is a major obstacle to the introduction of improved breeds. The programme is a rural development plow-attune with an emphasises on livestock improvement which will be achieved through tsetse and trypanosomiasis control. This will result in increased productivity of the indigenous bleeds and together with education and training allow for the gradual upgrading of these cattle. No new lands will be opened to livestock, rather the productivity of the existing system will be enhanced. The tsetse control activities involve the community, particularly women, at all levels and the emphasis will be on the use of traps and synthetic pyrethroids in the form of pour-ons applied directly to livestock, The long term aim of the project is sustainable rural development with tsetse control organised and financed by the livestock keepers. however, at present this is not a realistic goal as the farmers in the area have neither the knowledge nor the means to initiate and sustain tsetse control as their livestock provide little or no income. Edt► cation and training in improved land use systems integrating crop and livestock production will be important components of the project. Livestock improvement programmes aimed at a gradual upgrading of the indigenous cattle will be included once some measure of tsetse control is achieved. These involve the establishment of an Artificial Insemination service, a bull scheme and demonstration zero-grazing dairy schemes. Such activities will be integrated with improved animal health, nutrition and water supplies and the increased use of animal traction and manure will ensur c more efficient crop production for both human and animal consumption. Surplus income from livestock products and cash crops will.provide the means to sustain the tsetse control activities after the end of the project. The project also aims to fund non specified rural development activities to meet additional felt needs of the community.