P28 - Mosquito Abatement Through Empowerment Integrating Mechanized Farming and Community-Led Mosquito Control

Abstract: In malaria-endemic, subsistence farming communities across sub-Saharan Africa, poverty and disease perpetuate one another. The Mosquito Abatement Through Empowerment (MATE) project, in partnership with the Yotor Farmers Association, introduces an innovative model that integrates tractor-based mechanized farming with community-led mosquito control to improve both livelihoods and public health. By increasing household income and reducing time spent in the field, farmers are empowered to focus on mosquito control in and around their villages, reducing mosquito populations and advancing community health.

Since 2023, MATE has established partnerships with two pilot villages, Yejube/Debre Markos Zuria (Gojam) and Tibaga/Addis Zemen (South Gondar), representing over 200 households and 3,100 residents. With approval from regional and local health bureaus, the project conducted comprehensive community assessments to identify needs and design interventions linking food security, economic empowerment, and malaria prevention. Collaborations with Debre Markos and Debre Tabor Universities have provided training in larval rearing, mosquito identification, and community consultation, supporting local ownership of mosquito control activities.

In 2024, the partnership between the Rotary Clubs of Alameda (USA) and Addis Ababa East (Ethiopia) secured international funding for equipment and program expansion. By 2025, two tractors were deployed to the pilot villages, and three local operators trained in safe operation and maintenance. Villagers collectively cultivated over 300 acres, improving crop yields and household food access. In parallel, MATE-trained volunteers began implementing Larval Source Management (LSM) by surveying, geomapping, and monitoring mosquito breeding habitats, and repurposing tractors to drain water bodies that serve as breeding sites.

The MATE model demonstrates how integrating agricultural mechanization with community-led mosquito control can break the cycle of poverty and disease, strengthen local capacity, and promote sustainable rural development in malaria-endemic regions.