𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐢𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐫𝐲

…𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒑𝒊𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒓𝒚 𝒇𝒂𝒓𝒎 𝒔𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒎 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒏𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒑𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒚 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈

By Sonam Choden

The Department of Livestock has completed the first phase of training for the new Pig and Poultry Farm Registration System (FRS). This marks an important step toward the nationwide rollout of a digital platform aimed at formalizing and improving the management of livestock farms across Bhutan. The system is designed to create an organized, transparent, and traceable framework for handling pig and poultry farm data, which is essential for sector development and policy decisions.

The initial training brought together Livestock Production Officers (LPOs) and representatives from all 20 Dzongkhags. These officers play a central role in the registration process, acting as intermediaries between farmers, Gewog Livestock Supervisors (GLS), and the national Farm Registrar. Their responsibilities include reviewing, verifying, and endorsing registration applications submitted by farmers through Gewog supervisors. After verification, applications are sent to the Registrar at designated Pig and Poultry Centres for final approval. This multi-level review helps ensure data accuracy and compliance with standards.

During the training, participants learned about the main features and functions of the FRS. They were introduced to processes such as farmer registration, deregistration, re-registration, ownership transfer, and farm assessments conducted by GLS. Beyond registration, the system supports monitoring compliance with farm standards, inventory tracking, and the use of dashboards for data visualization. These tools generate reports that aid local and national decision-making. Together, these functions aim to improve transparency and traceability in the livestock sector, addressing the need for reliable data and oversight.

Training sessions included hands-on practice with simulated datasets to give participants realistic experience of the full registration cycle. LPOs worked in groups assigned different roles, such as farmer, Gewog supervisor, Dzongkhag officer, and Registrar, to simulate actual workflows in the FRS. This practical approach helped deepen their understanding of the system’s interface and prepared them to identify and solve potential technical issues. Technical support staff were available to address problems during the exercises, ensuring the system’s readiness for real use.
Over three days, the training also included strategic discussions about the system’s rollout. Representatives from pig and poultry centres presented data on population trends, resource needs, and regional readiness. These discussions aligned the digital registration system with existing livestock development plans to ensure a coordinated governance approach.

Jamyang Tashi Wangdi, Chief Livestock Production Officer, outlined a dual-path strategy for introducing the system in the field. Farmers with digital skills are encouraged to register independently via the FRS platform. Those without such skills receive assistance from Gewog Livestock Supervisors, who help complete the registration. This method ensures inclusive participation, recognizing varying levels of technology access among farmers.
Internet connectivity was noted as a potential challenge in some areas. To address this, the Department plans to explore offline registration capabilities in future system updates. This feature would allow data collection without internet access and automatic syncing once connectivity is restored. Although not yet available, this planned enhancement shows the Department’s commitment to overcoming infrastructure limitations and maintaining registration services.

“Considering that most existing pig and poultry farms are situated in areas with stable internet access, significant disruptions are not expected at this time,” Jamyang said. However, the Department remains attentive to connectivity issues and is working to ensure all farmers can participate fully, regardless of their location or access to technology.
Looking ahead, the Department intends to begin formal training for Gewog Livestock Officers next fiscal year. This will prepare them for the full-scale registration of livestock farms into the FRS database. A phased rollout will help ensure institutional readiness, improve data accuracy, and encourage stakeholder engagement at all levels. Training field officers thoroughly will streamline operations and enhance the quality of data collected.

The FRS represents a major advance in Bhutan’s efforts to digitize livestock management. By formalizing the registration of pig and poultry farms, the system aims to strengthen sector regulation and improve tracking of productivity and resource use. Better data availability will support more effective service delivery to farmers and timely interventions when needed.

In the long term, the FRS will provide reliable data on farm numbers, locations, and compliance status. This will help the Department and partners monitor animal health trends, allocate resources efficiently, and plan development initiatives more effectively. The system also has potential to improve traceability in the supply chain, supporting food safety and consumer confidence.

The successful completion of the Training of Trainers phase lays a solid foundation for the FRS rollout. By equipping key personnel with the knowledge and skills needed, the Department of Livestock is prepared to implement the system nationwide. The FRS initiative will support the modernization and formalization of livestock management, promote sustainable development in the pig and poultry sectors, and strengthen governance across the country.