The impact of foot and mouth disease on the livelihood of cattle farmers in Soroti county Soroti District.

Abstract

A study was conducted to assess the impacts of FMD outbreak on the livelihood of small holder cattle fanners in Soroti County, Soroti District. The objectives of the study were to determine the economic impacts of FMD outbreak to the livelihood of cattle farmers and to establish the. social. impacts of FMD on the livelihood of cattle farmers in Soroti County; Soroti District. The impacts of FMD were assessed based on data obtained from small holder cattle farmers that occurred in May, 2014 to December 2014. Data was collected using quetionnaires administered to 150 small holders: cattle: farmers in the sub counties of Arapai katine, Asuret, Gweri, Tubur; Soroti and Kamuda. The results 011 Inchtaliry rates indicated that calves had the highest mortality rate of 37.8%, followed by cows (52%) Bulls (4.3%), steers (3,6%), and Heifers (1.8%). The total economic loss due to FMD outbreak in Soroti County was Ush952,899 Monthly losses accounted for the highest economic loss of shs 435;000 per household followed by Draft power loss (Ushs 356,586) Vaccination cost treatment costs, Milk yield loses and abortion loses accounted (or Shs 6,177, Shs7.4,211, Shs31, 754.and Shs 49,137 respectively. Mortality losses (X2 =45.635), Treatment costs (X2=24821), Vaccination costs (X2= 11,550), Traction power losses (X2=22368) Milk yield losses (X2= 11.661) were statistically significant at 10% confidence level (P<O.1), The social impacts were associated to reduction in meat and milk consumption, inability to use cattle for tradition practices like paying for bride price giving Cattle as gifts. The treatment costs were higher than vaccination costs, Mortality loses accounted for the highest economic loses, there was high mortality rate in calves as compare to bulls' cows' steers and heifers during the period of FMD outbreak