Impact of Trypanosomosis on Food Security in Nigeria: A Review

The aims of these review is to further highlight the direct and indirect impact of trypanosomiasis on food security in Nigeria. The direct impact on livestock productivity, include reduce meat and milk off take, calving rate, increase in calf mortality, decreases both lamping and kidding rates in sheep, goat and increase in cost of live stock management. Indirect impact of trypanosomosis include decrease crop production, decrease traction power, reduces work efficiency of both man and animals. The economic contribution of crop and animal production in ensuring food security in Nigeria is indispensable. Livestock production constitutes an important component of Nigeria agricultural development; animal protein raw materials for agro allied based industries. In conclusion, the potential for increasing livestock production can only be fully realized if the animals are adequately protected against the adverse effects of periodic stresses and diseases. Profitability of animal product demand efficient husbandry of animals, as disease remains a profit limitation factor in many tropical countries. For sufficient livestock production to be fully realized to meet the growing population of Nigeria, integrated approach to trypanosomiasis control is required to increase the present level of livestock production.