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.
30th June 2025: Her Excellency Ms. Mateja Vodeb Ghosh, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to Bhutan, visited the Department of Livestock on 30th June 2025. Her Excellency was received by the officials of the Department. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation between Bhutan and Slovenia in the development of the apiculture sector.
During the discussions, the Department of Livestock underscored the growing importance of apiculture farming in Bhutan, highlighting the country’s increasing investment and strategic focus on this sector. Recognized as a high-value livestock commodity, honey and related products have been identified as a priority under Bhutan’s 13th Five-Year Plan. Key areas of mutual interest and potential collaboration in the Apiculture sector between the two countries were explored.
To institutionalize the collaboration, the Department proposed the establishment of a formal partnership mechanism through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This long-term framework would clearly define roles, responsibilities, and structured deliverables to support sustainable apiculture development.
The Department also emphasized the urgent need to establish domestic honey testing and certification facilities, alongside robust capacity-building programs and knowledge exchange platforms for beekeepers and professionals. Strengthening apiculture research and advancing queen breeding and genetic improvement initiatives were highlighted as critical to ensuring quality assurance and the long-term sustainability of the honey sector. Honey has been designated as a Geographical Indication (GI) product and is expected to contribute significantly to the livestock sector’s share of the national GDP.
Her Excellency acknowledged the importance of the proposals and expressed her strong support for the initiatives. She assured that the proposals would be conveyed to the Slovenian Government and pursued further through her successor to ensure continuity and sustained cooperation in this sector.
The Department of Livestock extends its sincere appreciation to Her Excellency for her keen interest and support in promoting sustainable apiculture development in Bhutan. The Department looks forward to fostering a fruitful and enduring partnership with Slovenia in the years ahead.
