DAR ES SALAAM: THE African Dairy Genetic Gain (ADGG) app is a gamechanging tool aimed at transforming dairy farming in the country by providing smallholder farmers with innovative resources and insights.
The app, also access in some other African countries, helps improve herd productivity and sustainability, empowering farmers to thrive in a competitive industry.
By harnessing the power of genetic data and performance tracking, the app offers farmers the ability to make informed breeding and management decisions, ultimately leading to healthier, higher-yielding dairy cattle.
Also, the app allows farmers to track individual cow performance over time, providing valuable insights into which animals are performing best and which may require attention.
This level of data-driven management helps farmers optimise their breeding strategies, avoid inbreeding and achieve genetic progress within their herds.
The Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Deputy Permanent Secretary, Mr Abdul Mhinte, said the app also offers educational resources, giving farmers access to best practices in dairy management, genetics and herd improvement.
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Once an internet connection is available, the app automatically sends the captured data, ensuring it is updated. The local farmers to benefit from the livestock app, the country starts with training programmes to extension officers who will later pass and supervise the knowledge to livestock keepers.
The app project is being implemented in 24 districts across the country, including regions such as Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Tanga, Iringa, Njombe, Mbeya and Songwe.
The Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Permanent Secretary, Prof Riziki Shemdoe, highlighted the importance of leveraging technology to improve dairy cow productivity, enhance individual incomes, and contribute to the nation’s economic growth.
“The government has made significant contributions to the AADGG project, and we appreciate the efforts of the experts involved in helping farmers learn, adapt, and increase efficiency. “We encourage others outside the AADGG project to join so that our farmers can continue to benefit,” he said.
The government, during a recent visit to the AADGG and Envirocow projects in Arusha, directed livestock research institutes to collaborate on research focused on improving dairy cow production to meet both local and international market standards.
The institutions are International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the Tanzania Livestock Research Institute (TALIRI).
“The ministry recognizes the importance of digital extension services and regular farmer visits. I recommend that each farmer be visited at least once a month,” Prof Shemdoe said.
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“We are ready to ensure that data captured by the tool is analysed to provide valuable feedback to farmers, research communities, milk processors, input suppliers, disease control teams, and policymakers,” Dr Lyatuu said.
The app also allows data collectors to view and process performance records directly from their devices, eliminating delays and enhancing accuracy.
“Not only that but also it can provide records of what you have sent to the server, and provide a summary that helps to advise farmers during preceding visits,” says Dr Lyatuu.
According to AADGG, there is strong data security in place, ensuring that farmers can only access their own information, LGA leaders can only view averages of their choices within their own LGA, and the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries can see the averages of all data but can access detailed information upon request. Njombe Extension Officer Ms Frida Mbowe from Mbeya said ADGG focuses on making dairy farming more sustainable and resilient to challenges like climate change, disease, and fluctuating market prices.
“Through improving genetics and management practices, farmers can better withstand those challenges,” she said.
Tanzania Livestock Research Institute (TALIRI) Director General, Prof Erick Komba commended the team for developing the new app and facilitating the transition from ODK.
“The platform marked the beginning of a new era for dairy farm data collection with advanced tools and improved features,” Prof Komba said.
