The Department of Livestock has completed the final preparations for the nationwide rollout of the Pig and Poultry Farm Registration System (FRS), with the official implementation scheduled to begin in August 2025. In a technical debriefing held on 16 July 2025, the FRS working team presented the full features of the digital platform and its phased rollout strategy to the Ministry, which was chaired by Dasho Secretary.
Developed through a collaborative process involving the Department, Dzongkhag Livestock Officers, Dzongkhag Livestock Production Officers, Ministry ICT Team, GovTech Bhutan, FAO Bhutan (funding partner) and IT firm (Dragon Coders Private Limited), the FRS is a comprehensive online system designed to register all pig and poultry farms across the country. It aims to streamline data collection, enhance traceability, strengthen biosecurity, and support evidence-based planning and investment in the livestock sector. By offering real-time access to farm data, the system will help align farm operations with Good Husbandry Practices (GHP) and animal welfare standards, ensuring both systematic production system and disease preparedness.
The implementation will follow a structured rollout plan:𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐈 begins with professional training for livestock staff across 75 Gewogs in six pilot Dzongkhags (Samtse, Chhukha, Dagana, Sarpang, Tsirang, and Samdrup Jongkhar), chosen for their high concentration of pig and poultry farms.
𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐈𝐈 will see door-to-door farm registrations conducted by Gewog Livestock Supervisors. The formal launch of FRS is scheduled for September 2025.
𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐈𝐈𝐈 will focus on system monitoring, feedback collection, and necessary refinements.
𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐈𝐕 will involve professional training and registration rollout in the remaining 14 Dzongkhags to ensure full nationwide coverage.
By the end of December 2025, more than 85% of the pig and poultry farms across the country will be registered under the system.
A 28-day training program on Artificial Insemination (AI) for Community-based Artificial Insemination Technicians (CAITs) is currently underway in Khar Gewog, Pema Gatshel Dzongkhag. The program is being organized by the Regional Livestock Development Centre (RLDC), Kanglung, with the objective of strengthening the availability and continuity of AI services across the eastern region.
The CAIT initiative was conceived to address the shortage of AI technicians in the field by engaging local community members in cattle breed improvement programs. It aims to ensure uninterrupted delivery of AI services, enhance community involvement, and create employment opportunities for school dropouts and educated youth, thereby contributing to sustainable rural livelihoods.
Currently, 52 Artificial Insemination Centres (AICs) are operational across six eastern dzongkhags. Most of these centres are managed by a single technician responsible for a broad range of tasks, including AI service delivery, clinical case handling, fodder and feed development, and participation in official meetings and training sessions. This workload often results in inconsistent AI service delivery. The ongoing training seeks to equip CAIT candidates with the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills to effectively deliver AI services at the grassroots level.
The CAIT program was introduced in 2010 by the National Dairy Development Centre (NDDC), Yusipang, under the Department of Livestock, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MoAL). Since its launch, RLDC Kanglung, with financial assistance from the CARLEP project and in collaboration with NDDC and respective dzongkhags, has trained and deployed 83 CAITs, of which 45 are actively serving in the field. This initiative directly supports the Department’s broader goal of improving milk production through accelerated dairy breed enhancement.
The current training batch includes 33 participants, among whom two are female candidates, representing six eastern dzongkhags. The program commenced on April 16 and will conclude on May 13. The training is fully funded by the CARLEP project under IFAD support.
