Central Africa refines its strategy for the eradication of pests

At the initiative of FAO and the World Organization for animal health, livestock experts in Central Africa are in conclave since August 24, 2015 in Yaoundé, the Cameroonian capital.

According to Dr. Taïga, the Cameroonian Minister of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries, the Yaoundé meeting is designed to refine the sub-regional strategy for the eradication of plague among small ruminants in Central Africa.

Official statistics informed that, this animal disease threatens a bovine herd of over 22 million, 36 million small ruminants and 6 million pigs in the countries of the sub-region, while the breeding of these animals accounts for between 1 and 40% in the formation of agricultural GDP in some States in this part of the African continent.

In Cameroon, the last outbreak of animal plague was declared in September 2014 in Logone and Chari, Department of the Far North Region, the main basin of the hog production in the country (25%) where 70 animals had been infected in four barns.

Despite the prompt reaction of the animal health authorities, the outbreak had spread in four other regions out of 10 in the country, without causing major damage. This was unlike the first outbreak which was declared on Cameroonian territory in 1982, decimating 80% of the pig population.