To control, track and monitor the livestock sector, the Ministry of Agro-Industry is working with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations to set up an electronic National Animal Identification System.
Since 2019, the Ministry of Agro-Industry has been working with the FAO to review its existing animal identification system in view of improving its capacity to combat and monitor animal diseases, animal movement, counter livestock theft and upgrading administration of livestock.
The present identification system is not backed by an efficient record-keeping system that allows authorities to monitor the movement of livestock efficiently. The FAO assessment of the identification system showed that tags are often lost or tampered with.
This is mainly why the Ministry of Agro-Industry signed a Technical Cooperation Programme Agreement with the FAO yesterday August 11.
The project also includes the production of a procedure manual and new regulations that will allow local authorities to operate the software as well as a communication strategy to encourage farmers and breeders to improve record-keeping and register with the Ministry.
