General description

The Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries (Ministère de l'Elevage, des Pêches et des Industries Animales) is responsible for the development, implementation and evaluation of State policy on livestock, fisheries and the harmonious development of animal industries.

As part of his duties, it is responsible, in liaison with the other ministerial departments concerned, of:

• The application of any measures for the conservation, development and exploitation of domestic animals and their products;
• The safety of food of animal origin;
• Training and technical supervision in breeding;
• Training of fishermen, protection of maritime and river resources, improvement of production and sanitary and statistical control of marine, fluvial and piscicultural fisheries;
• Studies and research for the renewal of fish and fish resources in liaison with the Ministry of Scientific Research.

Cameroon Government created the Special Mission for tse-tse Fly Eradication (MSEG) in 1974, a specialized structure of the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries. It was created following the infestation of the Adamaoua region by tsetse fly, vector of African animal trypanosomosis (AAT), which decimated thousands of cattle. The first case of AAT declared in Cameroon was in the year 1943 in the Adamaoua region and since 1967 all the control measures employed, including the use of large quantities of trypanocidal drugs remained insufficient. The positive results obtained by the Lake Chad Basin Joint Commission that started the fight in the Logone Birni valley in the year 1961 in addition to the efforts of MSEG that started in 1974 have up to date led to the creation of about 5,000,000 hectares of tsetse-free zones where two-thirds of the national cattle population is found.

Role in the project

WP3: MSEG will develop the Cameroon national atlas and information systems of AT and its vectors. Available literature and reports on AT will be collated. Gaps will be filled by prospective field missions.

WP5: MSEG will coordinate the development and publication of the guidelines for the progressive control of AT, and support the streamlining of the guidelines into Cameroon national strategies and policies, through workshops and awareness and advocacy campaign gathering all stakeholders of the value chain.

WP6: MSEG will participate in a training workshop organised by COMBAT on diagnostic techniques and tools.

With the help of CIRAD, a serological diagnosis unit will be put in place to implement the action of the institution.

WP7: MSEG will write scientific and financial report every year, and contribute to dissemination through research articles(3 articles foreseen) and press release in local newspapers.