Types and Classification of Acaricides used and Challenges faced by livestock farmers in Kajiado West Sub County, Kajiado, Kenya

Abstract

In Kenya tick borne diseases and tick control is mainly by use of acaricides through dipping or hand spraying. Intensive acaricides use has led to concern over resistance and residue problems prompting authors to discuss new pest management strategies. The study aimed at evaluating pastoralists farmers on the types, classification and various challenges experienced upon acaricides use to eradicate ectoparasites in livestock during the months of May (wet) and November (dry) in 2018. Parasites are responsible for economic losses either directly or indirectly to livestock through discomfort and damage, resulting to drop in quality and quantity of dairy products. A cross-sectional design that combined quality and quantitative methods where a structured questionnaire, face to face interviews and focus group discussions were used for data collection from 138 farmers in Loita, Ngurumani and Olkkeramatian locations who were willing to participated. Description statistic was carried for frequencies, percentages, variance and data subjected to confidence limits to T-test at 95 %. Results revealed that farmers used nine acaricides under different trade names for their livestock with which three active ingredients (a.i) commonly use were cypermethrin (76%), amitraz (72 %), and deltamethrin (46%). These acaricides were WHO class III (33.3 %) and WHO class II (67.7 %) respectively were used. The acaricides controlled major pests and diseases in livestock, such as lumpy skin disease, tick fever, anthrax, bovine anaplasmosis, East Coast fever, foot and mouth disease and black quarter. These diseases are caused by ticks, tsetse flies, fleas, Biting flies, Mite Manges and lice. The farmers’ main livelihood was livestock that are sold to raise cash for food, school fees and other family obligation. The challenges faced by the farmers were climate change / variability led to loss of livestock due to inadequate pasture and water. This led to food insecurity, drought was the major problem leading to loss of livestock due to malnutrition, caused inadequacy in pasture for livestock and water for human and livestock use, poor infrastructural establishment especially poor road networks and transport impediments to the nearby commercial centres where they purchase the acaricides with most of them purchased during market days. Tick borne diseases were the major constraints and difficulties in the control of the tick vectors due to exposure to same acaricides and shortage of water. Farmers were found to coexist with wildlife inhabiting the Ewaso Nyiro River banks. These coexistence of livestock and wildlife increased human-wildlife conflicts, there is need for collaboration to minimize risks by lowering negative attitudes pastoralists possess towards wildlife. Most acaricides, Cypermethrin and alpha-Cypermethrin, WHO class II pesticides may be replaced with WHO class III and IV. Integrated pesticide management (IPM) require proper pesticides use and management among the farmers to follow manufacturer’s recommendation to prevent risks to human health and environmental pollution.