Livestock production forms an integral part of any survival strategy. In several countries, pastoralists and agro-pastoralists depend on livestock to meet their household nutritional and income requirements, with major income sources derived from trade in livestock and livestock products. This ensures a sustainable livelihood strategy and contributes immensely to the cultural and social standing of the livestock owners and dependants. In an attempt to limit the impact of natural disasters such as diseases, droughts, pastoralists constantly move their livestock crossing borders and trade their livestock from one country to the other therefore increasing the risk of transmitting diseases.

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a widespread, virulent and devastating animal disease of domestic and wild small ruminants. Small ruminants population in Africa, Middle East and Asia are either infected or at high risk of infection. It can have significant economic, food security and livelihood impacts. PPR is therefore of particular interest to FAO and other development agencies because of the important role small ruminants play in food security and livelihood resilience.

During the 37th FAO Conference, the rinderpest was declared eradicated worldwide. In complimenting all stakeholders for this major mankind achievement, member’s nations requested FAO “to initiate, in collaboration with global, regional and national partners, appropriate programmes for the control and eradication of peste des petits ruminants within the framework of improved ruminant health”.

In line with this recommendation, the FAO has already initiated a series of internal consultation and organized several meetings with international and regional stakeholders to elaborate a strategy on the progressive control of PPR. It has also prepared a position paper entitled “Supporting livelihoods and building resilience through peste des petits ruminants (PPR) and other small ruminant diseases control”.

This position paper will be issued in the coming days and will be a working document for formulating the global PPR progressive control strategy.

Concurrently, the FAO/OIE Global Framework for the Progressive Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases has also flagged PPR eradication as a major issue for attention. Both organizations are now joining forces to develop a PPR global strategy that should be presented to countries in 2014.