The federal government says it has intensified efforts to control tsetse flies in livestock-producing communities as part of measures to improve cattle health and productivity.

The team lead, Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD), Gilbert Okoro, stated this on Wednesday while conducting tsetse fly surveillance and ground control operations at Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) settlements in the state.

The control operations included spraying of insecticides on cattle farms and strategic locations to curb disease vectors and control the spread of livestock infections.

Mr Okoro stated that the exercise involved survey, supply, and control operations targeting areas where tsetse flies are prevalent.

According to him, two major methods are being adopted to curb the spread of the flies.

“We are using physical and chemical control methods. The physical method involves the deployment of biconical traps in affected areas to capture and destroy the flies.

“The second method is chemical control, where pesticides are applied using knapsack sprayers to eliminate flies not captured by the traps,” he said.

The FMLD team lead noted that the intervention became necessary due to the harmful effects of tsetse flies on cattle and humans.

He noted that the flies transmit trypanosomiasis, a disease that affects both livestock and humans, adding that the initiative aligned with the federal government’s “One Health Approach,” which integrates human, animal and environmental health.

“The One Health Initiative ensures that humans are healthy, livestock are healthy and the environment is safe.

“This operation is part of nationwide efforts, with Ogun among the benefiting states,” he said.

The RUGA communities visited included the Owowo RUGA community in the Ewekoro local government, the Alamutu Ruga community in the Abeokuta North local government and the RUGA cattle settlement, Alabata, in the Odeda local government area.

Earlier, the team led by the State Coordinator, FMLD, Toyin Ayo-Ajayi, visited the Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Bolu Owotomo, where she intimated the commissioner the reasons for the team’s visit to the state.

Responding, Mr Owotomo, represented by the Director of Veterinary Services, Taiwo Jolaoso, said that the state had strengthened veterinary services and livestock development to enhance food security and improve farmers’ productivity.

The commissioner said that the government was working to ensure farmers had access to essential resources for improved livestock production.

He noted that the state had introduced free vaccination for animals, particularly dogs, to promote public and animal health.

(NAN)