Digital Revolution in Livestock Development: Insights from February 2025 eConversation

Livestock farming is a key sector of rural economies in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), sustaining millions of smallholder farmers. Yet, this vital sector faces mounting challenges, from climate induced shocks and disease outbreaks to rising market demand. Digital technologies hold immense potential to improve efficiency in livestock management, enhance animal welfare and support environmental sustainability However, adoption remains relatively low particularly among smallholder farmers, leaving significant untapped potential for livestock farmers’ resilience and productivity. 

To explore these challenges and untapped opportunities, Digital Agri Hub together with Livestock Data for Decisions recently hosted the Smart Farming: The Digital Revolution in Livestock Development eConversation. An interactive, online discussion, bringing together international agriculture innovators, technology experts, livestock development practitioners to explore the opportunities and address challenges for digital solutions in the livestock sector across low- to middle- income countries (LMICs). With over 30 contributions from a global network, the discussions unearthed key insights on digital tools, financial incentives, gender inclusion, and the sustainability and reliability of digital solutions in livestock development. More than just a dialogue, this exchange cultivated a growing community dedicated to advancing digital transformation in livestock development. 

Highlights from the eConversation Series 

Please immerse yourself in the wealth of knowledge shared by livestock development experts in this discussion. A complete list of links can be found in the footnote of this blog article.

Week 1: Digital tools in livestock development.  

The discussion started off with a question about the digital tools used by livestock producers in LMICs and whether their deployment had been successful. This sparked an exploration of the digital agriculture landscape, shedding light on various solutions available for livestock development. The dynamic discussion provided participants with insights into mobile applications, data-driven platforms, and AI-powered tools aimed at improving livestock production. 

Community members shared country-specific examples of digital platforms, showcasing:

• Mobile applications for financial management, milk quality monitoring, performance tracking, heat detection, feed calculation, climate adaptation, and breeding management across Africa and Asian countries. 

• Information hubs focused on digital livestock technologies.

• Incentivised solutions linked to e-commerce platforms.

• Training platforms for skill development.

• Comprehensive lists of livestock-specific agricultural solutions.

• The FAO DVI Dashboard (databank). 

Additionally, the expert community enriched the discussion with valuable resources, including research publications, reports, websites, and information on international programs and initiatives, all reinforcing the critical role of digital tools in shaping the future of livestock development. 

Week 2: Financial Incentives for Digital Adoption

In the second week, discussions centred on the financial mechanisms that support the adoption and scaling of digital solutions. Country-level insights drawn from Himachal Pradesh (India), Somaliland, Cameroon, Kenya, and Ethiopia, highlighted key enablers: 

• Microfinance options tailored for smallholder farmers.

• The role of government subsidies in scaling digital innovations.

• The importance of public-private partnerships in driving adoption. 

These initiatives emphasised how well-structured market linkage incentives can drive digital adoption. Hence, by harnessing reliable, efficient and profitable digital trading ecosystems, they equip livestock producers with better market access, fairer pricing and increased incomes, laying the foundation for a digitally empowered livestock sector. 

Week 3: Gender Inclusion in Livestock Digitalisation

Inclusivity took centre stage in Week 3 as discussions focused on best practices and key principles for ensuring digital solutions are accessible to women livestock keepers and marginalised groups. 

Key highlights included:

• Afrique One’s initiatives empowering female scientists in livestock research

• The LD4D Gender & Livestock Data Community of Practice, which fosters knowledge exchange and collaboration 

In a nutshell, technology should serve as a tool for empowerment rather than deepening existing disparities. 

Week 4: Sustainability and Reliability of Digital Tools

In the final week, we examined the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of digital livestock solutions. One of the most striking insights was the regional distribution of these innovations.

While India leads in the total number of digital agricultural solutions, discussions revealed that East African nations are at the forefront of livestock-specific technologies. 

The conversations revealed top countries by number of digital livestock solutions, lead by Kenya, and followed by Uganda, Nigeria and Tanzania.

This distribution suggests the cultural and economic importance of livestock in East Africa, where cattle serve not only as production assets but also as financial collateral and symbols of cultural wealth. 

Moreover, Kenya’s strong presence in digital livestock solutions can be attributed to several factors:

• Early mobile technology adoption – The success of M-Pesa created a digital-ready environment.

• Strategic development aid – Many international donors and NGOs focus on Kenya’s livestock sector.

• Supportive policies – The Kenyan government actively promotes digitalisation in agriculture.

• Regional scaling advantages – Shared languages and similar farming systems allow solutions to expand across borders. 

Looking Ahead: Continuing the Conversation 

Although the structured eConversation series have concluded, discussions around livestock development are far from over. This has set a strong foundation, with key insights gained over the past four weeks offering valuable lessons for stakeholders across LMICs, sparking critical questions that need to be explored. These include:

• What can other regions learn from Kenya’s digital ecosystem?

• How can financial models be adapted to encourage wider digital adoption?

• What further steps can be taken to ensure gender inclusivity in digital livestock development? 

The dialogue continues as we work together to drive digital transformation in livestock development. 

We invite you to continue engaging with us and share your thoughts. Join the eConversation today: https://bit.ly/JoinD4Ag 

This event was brought to you by Livestock Data for Decisions (LD4D) and Digital Agri Hub. Together, let’s drive the digital transformation of the livestock sector and create sustainable solutions for the future! 

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