Socio-Economic Assessment of the Impacts of Trypanosomiasis on Cattle in Girja District, Southern Oromia Region, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Across-section study was conducted in and around Girja Woreda from September 2011 to March, 2012 to determine the economic impact of trypanosome in cattle. Questionnaires based information was used to assess the economic significance and determine factors assessed in relation to economic impact of the disease. Out of 60 villagers asked about the impact of trypanosomosis of cattle. The result revealed that trypanosomosis as a disease of livestock in the area, the most important and the first problems affecting livestock productivity and agricultural activity as per 95% of the respondents. Nearly all respondent explained the direct impact on livestock productivity include reduce meat and milk off take, increase calving rate, increase in calf mortality and increase in cost of live stock management. Indirect impact of trypanosomosis include decrease crop production, decrease traction power, reduces work efficiency of both man and animals. The occurrence of such infection subjected the community to additional expenditure estimated for about 480 Ethiopian Birr per household (US$28.23) on preventive and 320 ETB (US$ 18.2) per house hold on curative drugs. Trypanosomosis is probably the only disease which has profoundly affected the settlement and economic development of a major part of the community in the study area. Therefore, trypanosomosis is the most important problem for agricultural activity and animal production in the areas and the situation is getting worse as the control and prevention of trypanosomosis is facing a challenge due to limitation of vector control activities and the development of drug resistance in the area. These results show the dramatic impacts that trypanosomosis cause a series problems in the area.