Côte d’Ivoire signs deal for livestock traceability system
Government moves to strengthen animal health monitoring and protect farmers from economic losses
CÔTE D’IVOIRE – Côte d’Ivoire has taken a major step toward introducing an animal traceability system that could reshape livestock management across the country.
The Ministry of Animal and Fisheries Resources signed a memorandum of understanding on September 29 with Vet’Tronic, a French company that specializes in electronic animal identification.
According to the ministry, the agreement sets out plans for a pilot project that will focus on the identification and registration of livestock and companion animals.
The goal is to improve the management of animal health while giving the government better oversight of commercial practices and imports.
“Animal identification is a legal requirement in Côte d’Ivoire. It is the only official way to recognize the owner of an animal and establish a formal link between the two. This system will also allow the State to guarantee the traceability of animals, monitor their health, strengthen public safety, protect the environment, and better regulate commercial practices and imports,” the ministry said in a statement.
Although the framework is in place, officials have not yet announced when the pilot phase will begin or how long it will run.
The ministry explained that the priority is to transform livestock health management into a more preventive and responsive system that can reduce economic losses and safeguard rural communities.
Heavy losses from disease outbreaks
Côte d’Ivoire’s livestock sector, which contributes 4.5 percent to agricultural GDP and 2 percent to the national GDP, has faced repeated challenges from animal diseases in recent years.
Between 2015 and 2023, the country recorded five outbreaks of African swine fever. Losses from those outbreaks reached an estimated 9.2 billion CFA francs, or about 15 million dollars.
The problem persisted into 2024. In April, veterinary services reported a fresh outbreak in the department of Daloa in the Center-West. More than 100,000 pigs were slaughtered in an effort to contain the disease. The ministry later estimated the financial impact at around 20 billion CFA francs.
Officials believe that the traceability system will give farmers stronger protection against such shocks. By tracking animals through microchips, authorities will be able to identify disease outbreaks more quickly, control animal movements, and ensure that farmers receive recognition for ownership.
The ministry stressed that the project also has broader public benefits. “This system will allow the State to guarantee the traceability of animals, monitor their health, strengthen public safety, protect the environment, and better regulate commercial practices and imports,” the statement repeated.
For farmers and traders, the initiative could offer much-needed stability in a sector that remains highly vulnerable. For the government, it represents an investment in both food security and economic resilience.
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