SOCIO-ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF ANIMAL TRYPANOSOMOSIS CONTROL IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF GHANA

ABSTRACT

The Northern Region of Ghana is important agriculturally and contributes significantly to

the livestock sub-sector. Livestock production in the region is, however, bedevilled with

many constraints such as animal diseases and inadequate feed and water for livestock

during the dry season. Among animal diseases, trypanosomosis is identified as the most

important constraint and the sustainability of the control of tsetse, which is the main

vector of this disease, is the focus of this study. Contingent Valuation (CV) techniques

were used to generate estimates of farmers’ willingness to pay in cash or labour for tsetse

control. With respect to the low trypanosomosis risk villages, only 1.1% of the 90

fanners declined to contribute some resources for tsetse control. In addition 4.4% and

23.3% pledged monetary and labour contribution respectively. Furthermore, 71.1% were

willing to contribute both money and labour. The average proposed monetary

contribution is between 7,062 and 15,000 Ghanaian cedis (US$0.78-1.70). In the high

trypanosomosis risk villages, the proposed average monetary contribution is between

8,040 and 11,500 Ghanaian cedis (US$0.89-1.30). Only 1.7% of the 181 farmers declined

to contribute while 7.7%, 34.8%, and 55.8% pledged monetary, labour and both labour

and monetary contribution respectively. Factors affecting monetary contribution as

identified by the simultaneous equations model include: household income, household

farm size, and household expenditure on associations. Farmers in the high

trypanosomosis risk villages are found to use more veterinary drugs than those in the low

risk villages. Factors that influence the use of these drugs are household income,

household cattle size and household size. Key policy recommendations from the study

are: (1) Government and non-governmental organizations should assist communities in

the study area with reliable sources of water to solve the perennial water problem, (2) The

Veterinary Services Department should be adequately resourced to embark on a massive

and comprehensive educational campaign to educate farmers on how to identify and

handle simple livestock disease situations, the correct usage of animal drugs and the need

to avoid bush fires, (3) A research should be conducted to find shrubs and trees that can

stand the conditions of the study area to provide alternative feeding for animals in the

dry season and (4) Government and other donor agencies should review their budgetary

allocations to tsetse control to reflect the seriousness of trypanosomosis on both humans

and livestock.