Climate Change Adaptive Capacities in the Traditional Livestock System of Southern Africa based on Indigenous Knowledge

AfricaAdapt Climate Change Symposium,

Addis Ababa, 9th to 11th March 2011

Dr. Elder Moonga

NISIR/SANBio Livestock Node, PB 49, Chilanga-Lusaka, Zambia

Email: eldmoo@yahoo.com; eldmoonga@hotmail.com

Introduction

Sub-Saharan Africa: Livestock contributes about 30% of

agricultural GDP Over 4 decades growth in the livestock

sector has been only 2% About 68% of human population is wholly

or partially dependent on livestock More than 70% of livestock population is

under the rural traditional farming sector About 80% of the rural populations suffer

from cultivated food insecurity and poverty

Constraints to increased livestock productivity in Southern Africa

Agro-ecological factors (Climate Change related)

Poor marketing facilities Inadequate national and regional policies Inadequate extension services Livestock diseases and respective vectorso Inadequate diagnostic facilitiesoUn-affordable drugs, vaccines and vector

control chemicals

Building capacity for increased livestock productivity in selected areas of a rural district in Zambia

The study specific objective: To determine the prevalence of livestock

diseases/vectors and the relationship to climate change

To determine the local adaptive capacitiesThe study methodology: Participatory Rural Appraisal - Key Informant

Interviews (KII) and Focus Group Discussions (FGD)

The study area: Central Zambia lying between latitude 14º00’ -

15 º45’ South and longitude 25º15’ - 28º00’ East

Focus Group Discussion (PA)

Study findings

Vectors:opresence of all the major tick species :

Amblyomma species, Boophilus species and Rhipicephalus species

o increasing tick abundance during the last decadeTick Borne Diseases: Theilerioses,

Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis and Heart Watero the seasonality patterns bears a direct relation to

that of vectorsGastro-intestinal parasites : nematodes, liver

flukes and protozoa (Eimeria species)

Study findings - increasing tick abundance

Tick resistance to chemicals (acaricides)odip mismanagement by sub-optimal

concentrations and reduced dipping frequencyo lack of product quality control

Reduced animal resistance to ticks and pathogens due to cross-breeds

Much rapid break down of chemical compounds (active ingredients)?

Altered tick life cycles and behaviour (Short generations, large populations and high reproductive rates) ?

Meteorological data - rainfall

Figure 1. Distribution of mean seasonal rainfall as a function of latitude for stations west of longitude 28.5o E for the period 1940 to 1970.

Latitude (o South)

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Me

an

an

nu

al r

ain

fall

(mm

)

600

700

800

900

1000

1100

1200

1300

1400

1500

Y = 0.5112x3- 5.8488x2-275.05x+ 4622.8

r2 = 0.941

Meteorological data - rainfall

Figure 2. Distribution of seasonal rainfall as a function of latitude for stations in Zambia west of longitude 28.5o E for the period 1971 to 2005

Latitude (o South)

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Me

an

se

aso

na

l ra

infa

ll (m

m)

500

600

700

800

900

1000

1100

1200

1300

1400

Y = 2.0097x3

- 79.7x2

+ 907.79x -1613.8

r 2

= 0.945

Meteorological data - rainfall

The mean difference in seasonal rainfall for the study district, Mumbwa between the periods 1940 to 1970 and 1971 to 2005 is 104 mm

The rainfall has been reducing to a present (2000 to 2010), mean seasonal rainfall of 714.0 mm.

Meteorological data - temperature Duncan's Multiple Range Test for the annual

increase in mean temperature (oC/year) for the three Agro-Ecological Zones of Zambia

REGION Mean N Duncan Grouping

I 0.041 5 A

II 0.031 11 B

III 0.029 12 B

Means with the same letter are not significantly different at Alpha = 0.05, df= 17, MSE = 0.000098

Meteorological data – temperature & relative humidity

The average rate of increase in mean annual temperature for Zambia is:o0.032oC per year or 0.32oC per

decade (± 1.0˚C) The mean Relative Humidity over

the period is 62.7 %.

The local adaptive capacities using Indigenous Knowledge Communities appreciate the value of

Indigenous Knowledge (IK) as a response to the present crisis – diseases

Communities utilize traditional plant remedies for various veterinary problems◦ examples : tick control; expelling retained

placenta/dystocia management/abortion management; New Castle disease treatment; Corridor disease treatment; Anthrax treatment; biting flies repellent ; Pink Eye treatmentwounds healing; blood diarrhoea treatment; Snake bite management; helminths control; fructure repairs

◦ Harmonization of IK & SK by scientific validation

Building on community adaptive capacities

Previous studies in Zambia IK inventory of various plants

medicinal, agricultural and veterinary values

Tephrosia vogelii crude leaf extract at 10% w/v protects cattle from tick infestation up to 10 days

Present study(Zambia, Zimbabwe & Malawi)

Popularisation of T. vogelii for ticks control

TEPHROSIA plants

Tephrosia plant Tephrosia is a legumeo is very useful in soil enrichment

through nitrogen fixation. It’s also effective against a

number of crop pests

Key Messages

IKS is very useful in adapting to climate change in the farming traditional sector BUT requires modern scientific validation

The promotion and utilization of T. vogelli, will generate additional interests into more applications of IKS

Thank you