ILRI, CTLGH launch advanced mobile app for smallholder farmers

AFRICA – The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH) have unveiled an innovative mobile app to revolutionise livestock management for smallholder farmers. 

The app, developed under the African Asian Dairy Genetics Gains Project (AADGG), provides real-time monitoring of livestock health, feed management, and breeding data. 

This tool marks a significant advancement over the previously used Open Data Kit (ODK) system, which had limitations in data accessibility and real-time feedback.

The AADGG-Dairy Data App, which runs on Android smartphones, has already been rolled out in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Nepal. 

The app enables farmers, researchers, and agricultural extension agents to record and track comprehensive information about their cattle, including health data, breeding history, and milk production.

One of its key advantages is the ability to access historical data, which was previously unavailable with ODK, allowing farmers to make more informed decisions based on past performance.

Dr. Raphael Mrode, Principal Scientist at ILRI and researcher at CTLGH, described the app as a “game-changer” for data collection, noting that it will offer farmers long-term sustainability by providing more opportunities for accurate and consistent data capture. 

Unlike the traditional tablet-based system, the app is designed to be more accessible and user-friendly, particularly for smallholder farmers with limited resources. 

It has been developed to eventually offer local language support to increase accessibility across the regions.

The app offers six distinct modules, covering pedigree, milk output, animal traits, farm size, and other crucial metrics, giving farmers a detailed view of their livestock management.

The historical data access, previously missing from ODK, will significantly enhance decision-making and boost productivity for farmers, particularly in the dairy sector. 

“This app will allow us to improve the efficiency of the dairy value chain, from genetic improvements to disease control,” said Professor Mwai Okeyo, the visionary behind the app’s development.

The app was developed in collaboration with Unmiti, a software company based in Hyderabad, India, specialising in agricultural digital tools. These tools provide invaluable insights into herd health, breeding patterns, and farm economics, supporting efforts to implement sustainable farming practices. 

Initially, the app was tested by performance recording agents who travelled through rural areas to collect farmer data. As the app’s capabilities expand, farmers will eventually be able to record their own data, reducing the need for external data collectors and making the process more cost-effective.

Raphael Mrode further explained that once data quality is validated, the app will be rolled out directly to farmers. This shift toward self-recording will lower costs and enhance the accuracy of the data collected. 

“Once the data starts flowing, we will see lower costs because farmers will record their own information, reducing the need for data collectors to visit villages,” he noted.

In addition to improving productivity, the data collected through the app will be crucial in addressing significant challenges such as climate change, disease management, and antimicrobial resistance. 

The app’s data validation protocols ensure that the information gathered is reliable, which is vital for making strategic decisions about livestock management. 

Furthermore, the app will play a key role in tracking animal health, enabling farmers to better manage treatments and prevent disease outbreaks.

Looking to the future, ILRI and CTLGH plan to continue expanding the app’s capabilities. The goal is to create a self-service platform to ensure greater financial sustainability for the initiative by reducing reliance on enumerators for data collection. 

Additionally, with the African Union’s support, the app will be available in multiple languages to further broaden its impact.

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