Empowering smallholder farmers in the management of livestock ticks

The Government of Tanzania through the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development and livestock industry stakeholders developed a National Livestock Policy (NLP) of 2006 that availed opportunities and challenges for accelerating the growth and contribution of the livestock industry to poverty reduction and the national economy by making more optimal use of available land, animal and human resources. The establishment of livestock disease free zones was highlighted as one of the interventions in the livestock industry. However, this is practically difficult as some diseases such as those transmitted by ticks are potentially distributed in the country. The impact of tick borne diseases has been tremendous in Tanzania of which smallholder farmers are adversely affected. In attempt to address this problem, a project “Development of acaricidal agents from Commiphora swynnertonii for management of livestock ticks for smallholder farmers” was implemented by a team of researchers from Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), National Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) and a community based organization. Two postgraduate students have been engaged in collaboration with small holder famers to: (i) characterize secondary metabolites with acaricidal activities from the C. swynnertonii stem bark exudates; (ii) determine chemical markers for acaricidal agents from C. swynnertonii stem bark exudate; and (iii) evaluate on-station acaricidal effects of C. swynnertonii formulations. The project has been well received by smallholder famers in Tarime district and Mogabiri Agricultural Development Center. This is a positive sign that the innovation will be easily adopted by the farmers. Successful implementation will contribute in poverty reduction as stipulated in United Republic of Tanzania National Strategy for Growth and Reduction of Poverty I, II and III.