Ex-ante Social and Economic Impact of Rift Valley Fever control options in Pastoral and Agro-Pastoral Livestock Production Systems of Uganda

Rift Valley fever (RVF), is a zoonotic vector borne disease with multiple negative economic implications. Besides infecting humans, it induces abortions and deaths on livestock farms thereby impacting productivity and profitability. In response to the alarming repurcussions of the disease, numerous policy measures have been established. Unfortunately, there uptake is not often straight forward and may not be aligned to the needs of the target users. This study contributes to literature by first investigating the influence of livestock chain actors' psycho-social constructs on intentions to take up RVF control measures. Second, the impact of on-farm biosecurity on livestock farmers' food security and poverty outcomes are estimated. Third, the study evaluates the impact of RVF control measures on livestock farm productivity. Finally, livestock farmer preferences and influence of heuristics on RVF vaccine choice decisions are assessed. The results reveal that positive attitudes among other behavioral constructs is essential at driving farmers intentions to take up RVF control measures. Further, social pressure within the livestock chain actors' interaction-networks boosts their uptake of available and planned RVF control measures. Increasing farm biosecurity levels are associated with higher household dietary diversity scores, household domestic asset index and a reduced poverty gap. Also, vaccination of farm animals using live vaccines averts more on farm deaths and number of infected animals thereby boosting overall farm productivity. The results suggest the need for policy makers to consider livestock chain actors behavioral patterns as an incentive to motivate uptake of RVF control measures. Finally, farmers' risk perceptions and attribute preferences need to be evaluated by policy makers when designing vaccination programmes.