The tsetse flytrap

Is the flytrap sustainable?

Think about the following.

• The flytrap greatly reduces the damage that tsetse flies cause in the area.
• It means that farmers have to spend less money on medicine to treat trypanosomiasis.
• It means that farmers have to spend less money on medicine to treat trypanosomiasis.
• With healthier cows, families are able to produce more milk and, as a result, are healthier themselves.
• The flytrap is made from locally available materials.
• After initial training, the people trained in making the traps can train others.
• Local people are now confident that they can tackle the tsetse fly problem themselves, without outside help.
• The flytrap was the result of a community project. It brought people together to try to solve a common problem. As a result, there is now an established committee structure, which encourages people to look at problems together

But

• The scheme needs to be disseminated to other areas.
• The traps have to be monitored and repaired (especially the coloured fabric).
• Local people need to invest in maintaining the scheme once support from outside organisations ends.

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