Cattle, IoT and Blockchain in Botswana

What is IoT?

The multi-billion IoT sub-sector, which has now gained traction in mature markets such as the United States and Asian countries, can be best explained as a network that helps to connect multiple smart devices enabled with software, network connectivity, and exchange information between each other and with the server.

A significant area in which IoT has started to make changes in industrialized countries is in the area of smart homes and smart appliances. Amazon offers IoT devices. Samsung offers this through smart appliances. Apple has an IoT platform as well.

There are a number of services that IoT can be used for. As mentioned this technology is being used throughout North America in the form of smart home devices. This can include refrigerators, in the form of smart fitness devices, and also there are a number of industrial applications for IoT too.

Botswana Cattle

Countries like Botswana are starting to understand the benefits and achievements possible with IoT services. “As a country, we cannot afford to be left out from the IoT because it offers an opportunity for companies to achieve maximum efficiency and broaden products offerings. Local consumers will be able to enjoy benefits such as those which come with smart homes connected to IoT technology,” said Chere who has been in the telecoms industry for over 15 years.

In Botswana, there is hope to use IoT technology to stem the tide of cattle rustling or theft. Along the Zimbabwe-Botswana border specifically, there are many cases of cattle theft. A commission has been set up by the Botswana government to look into cases of cattle rustling along the border. “The terms of reference for the commission of inquiry is to establish the problem of livestock rustling in the Bobirwa villages along the Botswana/Zimbabwe border and determine the extent of the problem,” the Botswana government said in a statement.

In Botswana, one of the livestock industry’s leading countries, the government is considering a blockchain-enabled IoT system to track cattle. The system would be based on a cloud-based database network that would be accessible by government officials and the country’s cattle farmers.

The idea behind this proposed IoT system is to increase transparency in the livestock industry. The system would allow tracking of all cattle throughout their lives. With this information, it would be easier to see if any cattle are being smuggled or illegally traded.

In an effort to further improve the security and transparency of livestock management, Botswana is considering utilizing blockchain technology for cattle asset tracking. The Botswana Ministry of Agriculture has partnered with a local company called TEMBA Educare Technologies to develop the technology for Botswana.

Botswana and Blockchain

In Botswana, Africa, Alakanani Itireleng, lovingly referred to by her community as the BitcoinLady, is educating people on how to make money through bitcoin and altcoins, as well as how to build applications on blockchain at the Satoshicentre, a hub she started out of her home in Gaborone. Self-funded and supported through donations, the center’s small team has plans to create an incubator, where startups can connect with mentors and sponsors.

An important catalyst for blockchain adoption in Botswana is president Mokgweetsi Masis. He has been quoted as saying that, “ It is more imperative than ever for Botswana to expand. This opens the door for Botswana to start the adoption of blockchain technologies.

Botswana and IoT

What is Botswana planning on doing with IoT? As of this article, Botswana is still in the early stage of IoT adoption. For the most part, Botswana has decided to embrace IoT and is working to educate its corporations on the services that could be provided through the adoption of IoT technology moving forward.

As Phuthego Chere Chairman of Internet Society Botswana has said, “As a country, we cannot afford to be left out from the IoT because it offers an opportunity for companies to achieve maximum efficiency and broaden products offerings. Local consumers will be able to enjoy benefits such as those which come with smart homes connected to IoT technology,”

The business focus in Botswana will be on cost savings for end-users. One area is the real estate market. Other services include wi-fi and cattle tracking. As stated above tracking cattle is important for the farmers and ranchers of Botswana to maintain their herd integrity along the Zimbabwe-Botswana border.

IoT Enabled Live-stock Management

Traditional methods of livestock monitoring are not always enough to accurately monitor a herd. It involves individual inspection of cattle which is time-consuming and inaccurate. Oklahoma University had found that 37 percent of cattle showed lung scarring that had not been previously reported. Another study had found that 68 percent of cattle tested showed signs of respiratory infections in the past. This is not helpful to the consumer or the cattle rancher or any entity looking to invest or insure a herd.

In addition to monitoring the health of the animals, IoT-enabled live-stock management can also track grazing patterns. This can prevent loss due to any number of reasons. The rancher can gather and analyze historical data and identify trends in grazing and the health of their animals, or track the spread of illness.

IoT, Blockchain, and one Solution

One solution is to look to merge the efficiencies of IoT and the immutability of blockchain to create a strong age and source verification. Utilizing IoT devices can help the rancher with tracking their herd, but also can help consumers understand the value of the beef they are purchasing.

IoT and blockchain have combined into a system utilizing an immutable ledger in blockchain along with an implantable device that helps the small independent rancher locate their animals. Give investors certainty about the health of the herd. Allows for ‘farm-to-table’’ sales of beef. And it is all verified on the blockchain.

Consumers have shown a willingness to pay premium prices for ethically raised quality beef. Consumers have also shown an interest in purchasing directly from the rancher. The Cattle Proof solution would allow for this as the utilization of an NFT that represents the individual animal and can be tracked and traded through verifiable transactions. All information as to the health and quality of the individual cattle is tracked and verified by such a system.

Using the power of IoT and combining that with blockchain technology is one method that will allow ranchers whether they are in Botswana or the United States track their herd and verify the viability of the individual cattle.

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