Communications and Data Collection: Lessons from Studies in the Extensive Livestock Production Areas of Kenya

Two-way communication, a key component in the effective delivery of veterinary services to livestock keepers, has conventionally been difficult in the extensive pastoralist livestock production systems of Kenya. These difficulties lie in the challenges of the harsh terrain and poor road system, which exacerbate the problems posed by the large distances between frontline personnel and headquarters staff. Information and communication technology provides an opportunity for addressing these data communication challenges, facilitating rapid and broad-based sharing of information throughout the livestock value chain. The platform provided by the mobile technology enables early warning of impending disease events, essential for effective containment of outbreaks that result in knowledgeable interventions. The lessons learned in establishing mobile data communications for the extensive livestock production areas of Kenya are described in this article. The advantages of available technology are discussed and suggestions put forward on how the transmission of data from remote field locations to a central database can be extended for use in other related situations.