App to improve livestock productivity and empower smallholder farmers

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH) have launched a real-time livestock monitoring application that aims to improve livestock productivity and support smallholder farmers.

The app, developed under the African Asian Dairy Genetics Gains Project (AADGG) offers real-time capabilities for monitoring livestock health, feed management and collecting data on artificial insemination-features that were previously unavailable with the commonly used Open Data Kit (ODK) system.

One of the key innovations of the new app is its ability to search and access historical data on individual cows. It replaces the simpler ODK system, which was typically accessed through a tablet or laptop but was not easily accessible to farmers and made retrieving collected data difficult.

Developed under the AADGG, the dairy data app aims to revolutionize livestock management for smallholder farmers across sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.

The app streamlines the process of registering farms, farmers and their livestock, enabling the recording of household information, health, breeding, and productivity data on individual cattle by farmers, researchers, and AADGG collaborators. With improved visibility and data quality through this mobile app, efforts to select adaptable, high-yielding dairy genetics for smallholder dairy farmers in Africa and Asia will be significantly strengthened.

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The AADGG-Dairy data app is available on Android smartphones and has been rolled out in four African countries which include Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. In was also unveiled in Nepal in September this year by a multi-national team.

“The app is a game-changer for us, providing a long-term sustainability path for our data collection. It gives us many more opportunities for data capture and of higher accuracy,” said Raphael Mrode, ILRI Principal scientist and researcher at CTLGH.

Some of the beneficial features include, Real-Time Data Collection which enables instant recording and feedback on livestock health, breeding, and productivity and Advanced Modules with six modules, this app tracks pedigree, milk output, farm size, animal traits, and more, offering comprehensive insights.

Others are Historical Data Access that, unlike ODK, the app provides farmers with visibility into past records, enhancing decision-making and User-Friendly Design which runs on Android smartphones and is designed for accessibility, with future plans for local language translations.

In a region where smartphone adoption is on the rise-Kenya alone boasts over 34.5 million smartphone users-this app represents an opportunity to bridge the gap in digital tools for agriculture.

‘The app’s interface and real-time feedback solve key challenges faced by farmers, enabling them to better manage their livestock for improved productivity,’ said Jennifer Volk, Senior Information and Data Systems Lead at CTLGH.

The app was developed in partnership with Unmiti, a Hyderabad-based software company specializing in agricultural digital tools. With its versatile data-collection modules, it provides invaluable insights into herd health, breeding trends, and farm economics, paving the way for sustainable farming practices.

The app was initially tested and used by performance recording agents, or data collectors, who travel through rural areas to gather critical farming information. While it is not yet available directly to farmers, future plans include translation into local languages to increase accessibility.

The app features specialized modules to collect a range of data types, including breeding and insemination data, herd health records, and other productivity metrics, making it a versatile tool for comprehensive livestock management.

Mrode explains, “Once the data starts flowing and the accuracy of the data is verified, we can roll out the app to farmers. The cost of collecting the data will also be lower because recording agents won’t have to go out to villages and speak to individual farmers. The farmers will record their own information.”

The development of this app demonstrates ILRI and CTLGH’s dedication to empowering smallholder farmers through innovative solutions.

By advancing sustainable livestock management, ILRI and CTLGH invite stakeholders, policymakers, and development partners to join efforts in scaling its impact and transforming farming practices globally.