Rwanda to launch National Digital Animal registration

Rene Anthere Rwanyange

Rwanda is preparing to digitally register livestock nationwide in a move expected to improve animal traceability, disease surveillance and veterinary services.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) said through its X account that preparations are underway to roll out AMIS/iHaze, a digital animal-information and registration system that will create electronic records for livestock across the country.

The system will provide farmers and veterinary authorities with more reliable information to support animal identification, tracking and management.

As part of the preparations, District Animal Resource Officers and Veterinary Sanitary Mandate (VSM) companies are receiving hands-on training at the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) headquarters in Rubona, Huye District.

MINAGRI is conducting the training to equip frontline animal-resource and veterinary officers with practical skills to use AMIS/iHaze for animal registration. The trained officers will support the upcoming national registration campaign, which will involve farmers and livestock stakeholders across Rwanda.

The digital register is expected to strengthen animal identification and traceability, while helping veterinary services access timely information for disease surveillance and response.

The initiative also supports Rwanda’s One Health approach, linking animal, human and environmental health. Better livestock data is expected to strengthen animal-health monitoring, improve veterinary services and support efforts to increase livestock productivity.

The programme is supported by the Government of Rwanda and development partners, including the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for cattle and AFR Rwanda. MINAGRI said farmers and other stakeholders will be engaged as the national registration campaign is rolled out.

The ministry expects the digital register to provide a stronger information base for livestock management and help Rwanda respond more effectively to animal-health risks.