The Abia State Government on Monday said it is partnering with the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD) to check incidents of Tse-tse flies and other pests in the state.
The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Cliff Agbeze, stated this when an FMLD team led by Mr Gilbert Okoro, Team Lead of the FMLD Tse-tse Fly Surveillance and Control Project, visited him in his office in Umuahia.
Agbeze was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Abia Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Adamma Aguwa.
Agbeze said the visit strengthened the federal and state governments’ efforts to reduce pests that destroy livestock and crop yields.
He added that it also demonstrated a clear commitment to boosting agricultural output in the state and the nation at large.
The commissioner said ministry staff were on hand to conduct the team to the sites where they would execute the Tse-tse fly surveillance and control projects.
Earlier, Okoro, the team lead, said they were in the state to conduct Tse-tse fly surveillance and control operations.
He said the project was designed to curb trans-boundary pests, especially Tse-tse flies, which threaten livestock production by transmitting a disease called trypanosomiasis.
He explained that the Tse-tse fly, a major pest of cattle, transmits trypanosomiasis, which causes sleeping sickness in both humans and cattle.
Okoro added that it also reduces the quality of milk and meat in cows and causes other health problems in humans.
He noted that the project aligns with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) ‘One Health Initiative’, which seeks to improve the health of farmers, increase crop and livestock yields, and protect the environment.
Okoro added that the project, which covers the six geo-political zones of Nigeria, is targeting the three senatorial districts of Abia State.
“Based on this, the team will visit Aba for Abia South, Umuahia for Abia Central, and Lokpanta for Abia North zones.
“The project has already been carried out in the North East zone. Abia is representing the South East zone.
“The team will move from Abia to Akwa Ibom, which was chosen for the South South zone,” he said.
The group later visited the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Umudike, Umuahia, to finalise plans for the commencement of their work at Umudike and other parts of the state.
The Abia Ministry of Agriculture staff present at the event were the Director of Veterinary Services, Dr Vitus Nwokoh, and the Director of Livestock and Fisheries, Mr Victor Obasi.
Others present were the Director of Epidemiology, Dr Onu Nwokedi, and the Head of Media and Information, Mrs Oluchi Franklin.
