| dc.description.abstract | Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is an endemic livestock disease that occurs in
frequent outbreaks with serious consequences to the cattle famers’ in Uganda. This
study determined the effect of FMD in cattle on household incomes in four districts in
Uganda to represent two agro-ecological zones: the agro-pastoral (Katakwi, Kumi and
Bukedea districts) and pastoral (Kiruhura district).
Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies were conducted by carrying out an initial
reconnaissance survey, then participatory rural appraisal methods and check lists for
farmers, traders and local government officials during the 3 month cross–sectional
studies. The one year long longitudinal studies involved use of specific
questionnaires to collect data on characteristics of the cattle and crop farming
systems, losses caused by FMD in cattle, the cattle enterprise, the crop enterprise,
household income, local government revenue attributable to FMD quarantine
restrictions and to the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries
(MAAIF) officials.
Data was analyzed using statistical, gross margin (GM) and cost-benefit analyses.
The study found that the contribution of cattle farming to household incomes was
60% to 90% in the study areas. Cattle contributed 90%, 82%, 62% and 59% of the
household income in Kiruhura, Kumi, Katakwi and Bukedea, respectively, indicating
and improvement in cattle contribution to the household income in the Teso region.
Milk output and live cattle sales were the major sources of output from cattle
enterprises. In general, the gross margin of the crop enterprise was less than 40% of
the cattle enterprise in the agropastoral areas, and pastoral areas registered losses in
the crop enterprise. Foot-and-mouth disease was a major cattle disease constraint in
all districts. There was poor annual national herd vaccination coverage of less than
20% for four years in a row, 2008 to 2011.
The financial loss caused by FMD outbreaks to individual household annually was
between USD90 to USD400 in the eastern region agro-pastoral areas. Over 50% of
these losses were due to losses in draught power in the communities that depend on ox ploughing for tilling their land. Cattle income was mainly used for school fees;
43% in Katakwi, 22% in Kiruhura, 21% in Kumi and 18% in Bukedea, but also a
large portion for human nutrition (20%) and medical bills (20%) in Kiruhura. The
effect of FMD in cattle on social amenities was high in Katakwi (56%) and Bukedea
(55%) and very low in Kiruhura (0.01%) and Kumi (8%). In Kiruhura, livestock sales
continued during quarantines hence the very low effect. Meanwhile, Katakwi, Kumi
and Bukedea local governments were most affected by FMD quarantine and lost 66%
to 88% of cattle market revenue because quarantine regulations were strictly followed
by the farmers and cattle traders. If the farmers vaccinated their herds annually, there
would be on average households saving of USD284 in Katakwi which would be 2.2
times more than the cattle enterprise GM; USD76 in Kiruhura, USD431 in Kumi and
USD451 in Bukedea that would be was 0.4, 2.4 and 3.9 times, respectively, of the
cattle enterprise GM. The savings would be made from not expending in treatment,
and removal of deaths, weight loss, abortions, milk losses, traction losses, crop
production losses and salvage losses attributable to FMD, by vaccinating the cattle at
a cost (vaccine and delivery costs inclusive) of USD2.64 per head. The benefit of
vaccination per head of cattle was more than ten times the cost of vaccination. FMD
outbreaks therefore cost the households more than what would have been earned by
the cattle enterprise, implying that the control of FMD outbreaks was subsidized by
funds from other sources of income like salaries and wages and worsened the
livelihood of farming households. | en_US |
