FAO to support Nigeria eradicate tsetse flies, trypanosomosis



ABUJA- THE Food and Agriculture Organisation, FAO, has expressed support to assist Nigeria control, eradicate tsetse flies and trypanosomosis in livestock.
This was disclosed by the FAO Sub-regional Coordinator and Representative to the AU and UNECA, Patrick Kormawa, while centred discussion on the devastating impact of the disease in Eastern and Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Nigeria, where the presence of tsetse flies and black flies has become worrisome with the Minister for Science and Technology, Ogbonnya Onu, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as it also negatively affects food security.
Among the key recommendations FAO brought forward include the importance of linking livestock health and tsetse and Trypanosomiasis elimination with nutrition programmes such as that of the Nigerian school food and nutrition programme. This creates market for agricultural products.
Also speaking on the disease challenge FAO representative to Ethiopia, Amadou Allahoury, said the organisation will support Nigeria in the eradication of the disease.
Amadou said: “Knowledge and experience sharing are crucial we are open to support Nigeria in this exchange of experience on pests and food security.”
Meanwhile, the Minister expressed interest in strengthening further the technical cooperation with FAO in establishing bankable sustainable programmes and links to key resource partners.
However, the Minister acknowledged the fact that for Nigeria to succeed in food security hence the control and eradication of tsetse flies, but with adequate budgetary resources and allocations to the agricultural sector, which if not will have a huge negative socio-economic impact on the people in affected communities, and the government has to move fast to commence the reduction and eradication of tsetse flies and the disease.

According to reports more than any other disease affecting both livestock and people, trypanosomiasis threatens human and livestock health, and agricultural production, thereby negatively affects rural development and poverty alleviation in sub-Saharan Africa. The disease, transmitted mainly by tsetse flies, has prevalence in 37 countries among the poorest of the world.

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