B.M. Ndisale
Secretary for Agriculture
Ministry of Agriculture
Lilongwe, Malawi
Mr. Chairman; Director of the Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources of the Organization of African Unity, Dr. Masiga; Your Worship the Mayor of the City of Lilongwe, Councillor Msosa; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen:
I am honoured and most privileged to have the opportunity to welcome you to Malawi on behalf of the government and the people of Malawi and to officiate at this inaugural sitting of the international meeting on East Coast fever immunization. In this vein, I extend to each and every one of you a warm welcome. We feel greatly honoured that you chose Malawi as the venue of this meeting. It is an honour for us to meet some of the world's distinguished scientists in the field of livestock production. You are most welcome here and you are free to go anywhere you like and to talk to anyone you like. Should time permit, feel free to extend your stay.
Distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, allow me a little self-indulgence and to talk about Malawi. I note with gratitude that the agenda for the meeting has included a field visit to the laboratory and animal facilities. There you will be able to see what we are doing in Malawi. As you probably know, Malawi is basically an agricultural country and therefore places great emphasis on all efforts aimed at improving agricultural production. This improvement in agricultural production is aimed not only at crop production but also at livestock production. It is the aim of the government to improve and expand the contribution from the livestock sector to the overall national agricultural output. Initially the increased output from livestock should help the country meet the ever-growing demand for protein due to the fast-growing human population, but eventually the government wishes to export any surplus of the primary products, such as milk, beef and beef by-products.
Livestock, and in particular cattle production, plays a vital role in the agriculture sector. As you all know, we keep cattle primarily for beef and milk, but I think you will agree with me that these animals play a vital part in cultivation and haulage within the rural areas, not forgetting the manure and the social function. The population of cattle in Malawi is currently estimated at just over 11 million and the majority of these are Malawi Zebu owned by the traditional smallholder farmers. In an effort to increase local milk production, the government's policy is to introduce cross-bred dairy cattle to the smallholder farming sector through distribution of heifers from government breeding farms and through artificial insemination services. This dairy group, together with some considerable number of beef cattle in Malawi, especially in the central and northern regions, are seriously threatened by East Coast fever (ECF). Mortality in the indigenous young stock was once estimated at 15%, but a 70% loss has been recorded for the exotic and cross-bred cattle. Therefore ECF is a major constraint in the development and expansion of the industry in Malawi. This is further aggravated by the occurrence of other tick-borne diseases: anaplasmosis, babesiosis and heartwater.
The present policy for controlling ECF and other tick-borne diseases is weekly dipping. Pursuing this policy currently costs the government about 3 million kwacha annually for importing acaricides. To this cost we have to add staff costs for supervising dipping and the management of acaricides in general. In addition, we have difficulties in the following:
a) ensuring timely and adequate supplies of acaricides
b) ensuring regular attendance at dipping by farmers
c) ensuring proper dip strength for a variety of reasons
d) buying curative drugs for ECF
Moreover, even if we managed to have all these problems solved, our infrastructural support is inadequate. With the introduction of cross-bred cattle, expected to be followed by improved milk and beef output, the government hopes to be able to convince farmers having large but less productive herds to reduce the size of the herds and concentrate on fewer but more productive cattle. This should in turn reduce the chances of overgrazing and subsequent soil erosion.
I understand that the experiences and problems I have just outlined are not confined to Malawi alone but all our neighbours and even those beyond are facing these problems in regard to ECF and other major tick-borne diseases, hence the reason why many countries are being represented at this meeting. At this opportune time you scientists from the various national livestock institutions are afforded an opportunity to come together and learn of the problems each one of you is facing in your respective countries.
Realizing the threat posed by ECF and other tick-borne diseases to the cattle production improvement programmes and the ever-increasing costs of acaricides, as well as noting the strides made already in East Africa in search of alternative means to control the disease, Malawi decided to establish a foundation for future regional control of ECF and to investigate the potential of the infection-and-treatment method of immunization in the Malawian context. Consequently, a project on ECF immunization supported with funds from the Danish Agency for International Development (DANIDA) and executed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) was established. Laboratory facilities and animal accommodation were built and equipped at the Central Veterinary Laboratory, in Lilongwe. Through a series of experiments, it was demonstrated that our cattle could be protected against ECF using the infection-and-treatment method. The Malawi Department of Veterinary Services with the support of FAO through the Technical Cooperation Programme have, when requested, in a modest way started immunizing cattle on a regular basis on government and some private estates since the termination of the DANIDA support in 1985. To sustain the immunization programme mentioned, Malawi together with other Southern Africa Development Coordination Conference (SADCC) member states affected by ECF have sought external assistance to establish a facility for the production of vaccine against ECF and other major tick-borne diseases. I am happy to announce that our efforts have been rewarded; the government of the Netherlands agreed to support the ECF Vaccine Production and Quality Control Project for two years. This should be followed by support to the SADCC countries from the United Nations Development Programme for a period of five years. Funding for production of vaccines against the other major tick-borne diseases (anaplasmosis, babesiosis and heartwater) is being provided by DANIDA and is being executed by FAO. We hope that when the current negotiations are completed this complementary project will receive funding assistance for a total of five years. The support referred to will go a long way in ensuring that the Organization of African Unity/Scientific, Technical and Research Commission resolution passed in September 1976, recommending the establishment of regional centres in Africa for controlling ticks and tick-borne diseases, is realized. In fact, the OAU in collaboration with FAO identified the Central Veterinary Laboratory, in Lilongwe, as the regional centre for East and Central Africa.
Therefore, on behalf of the government and on behalf of the people of Malawi, I would also like to extend our most sincere gratitude and appreciation to the funding agencies and governments, the OAU, ILRAD and FAO for the support rendered to Malawi on this very important subject. We in Malawi look forward to the continued co-operation with outside partners, not only on the matter of control of ticks and tick-borne diseases, but in all our development efforts.
I need not remind you distinguished participants that the task you have before you is not an easy one. The topics listed on the agenda for your deliberations seem appropriately and strategically selected. They are issues of major concern to our livestock and rural development efforts. It is hoped that at this meeting delegates will report on the progress made thus far in their countries in trying to solve the prevailing livestock production problems. Furthermore, I call upon you to come up with realistic strategies and recommendations in the fight against East Coast fever. I am confident that you, the eminent scientists gathered here today from participating countries and international organizations, will use the time at your disposal effectively through your interaction to develop strategies aimed at improvements in the livestock field. We must attain high and sustainable livestock production levels for the benefit of the ordinary man and woman whom we are all committed to serve.
Distinguished delegates, I hope you will have an enjoyable stay in our country and that you will be able to combine business with recreation in Malawi, which we boast of as being the Warm Heart of Africa.
Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, I have the pleasure to declare this meeting officially open.
