DIPPER Lab Engages Agriculture Minister on HerdWatch Device
The Distributed IoT-Platforms, Privacy and Edge-Intelligence Research (DIPPER Lab) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has introduced its livestock monitoring system, HerdWatch, to the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku.
The presentation took place during the minister’s visit to the lab as part of efforts to strengthen collaboration between research institutions and government in promoting digital agriculture.
Lemuel Siaw, a researcher at DIPPER Lab, briefed the minister on the HerdWatch system, which is designed to support farmers in managing their herds through real-time data collection and analysis.
HerdWatch is a wearable device attached to each animal.
It uses GPS, temperature, and motion sensors to track location, health, and activity levels.
Data from the sensors are transmitted wirelessly to a mobile phone or dashboard, allowing farmers to monitor their livestock remotely.
Mr. Siaw explained that “the technology seeks to improve livestock management and reduce challenges such as stray cattle, disease outbreaks, and inefficient grazing”.
He noted that “HerdWatch also contributes to efforts to cut emissions from cattle farming by promoting better grazing and feed management”.
The project is being developed and assembled locally at DIPPER Lab, with field testing planned in collaboration with the Departments of Crop and Animal Sciences at KNUST.
Mr. Siaw added that “the lab plans to pilot HerdWatch in the Afram Plains, a key livestock zone, to help reduce farmer-herder conflicts and improve productivity”.
The Minister commended the DIPPER team for the initiative and expressed the Ministry’s interest in exploring ways to support its adoption across the country.
