The Minister of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) Frank Tumwebaze has launched the final round of field trials of the Anti-Tick Vaccine developed by National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) scientists.
According to Minister Tumwebaze, this development will help on reducing on weekly expenses by famers spent on spraying ticks.
Tumwebaze on Thursday 27th October 2022, while launching the NARO Anti-Tick Vaccine multi-location filed trials at Mbarara Zonal Agriculture Research and Development Institute (MbaZARDI) revealed that farmers have been spending a lot on spraying ticks twice a week which has constrained on their budgets.
“Our farmers have been spending a lot on spraying tick, twice a week, and this has for years led to reduction in yields,” he said.
He added that these vaccines will reduce to twice a month which will save farmers from over spending.
Tumwebaze noted that scientists have put it’s efficacy so far at 88% and the trials will be done in all ecological zones of the country.
The Minister revealed the various candidate vaccine such as NARO RA, NARO AV, NARO CA and NARO RD that passed the initial test stages like laboratory tests, proof of concept, on station trials administered both orally and intramuscular injection.
The Deputy Director General Research Coordination said that the candidate Anti-Tick Vaccines were developed by extraction and Isolation of conserved ticks proteins from local ticks collected from the 10 agro ecological zones of Uganda.
Dr. Ambrose Agona the Director General of NARO in a statement read by Dr. Yona Baguma, said that the development of the vaccines kicked off in 2014 and have always fully been supported by government and other stakeholders.
Agona noted that after passing the initial tests pre-qualification, now the vaccine proceed to final geographical trial.
He further said that upon successful conclusion of this trial, results will be assessed for quality standardization which makes the vaccines safe for public use.
“The same trials will also be conducted in Uganda Prison Farm Isimba, Uganda Prison Farm Kiburara, Maruzi Livestock Reseay Centre, Nabuin ZARDI in Masindi I anda, Aoac and Nabilatuk, “ Agona revealed in a statement read by Yona Baguma.
NARO has produced a total of 3,000 doses of the candidate vaccines ready for trials that will be carried out in Masindi, Ibanda, Apac and Nabilatuk Districts.
