Cattle farm controlled from a mobile app as technology transforms livestock farming in Naogaon

Farmers in Naogaon are leaving traditional farm management behind and turning to modern technology. The environment inside a cattle farm can now be controlled remotely through an app on a mobile phone.

From temperature and humidity to the presence of harmful ammonia gas, everything can be monitored in an instant. The use of Internet of Things (IoT) technology is making farm management easier, cutting wasted labour and time. At the same time, by protecting livestock health, it is reducing the risk of losses.

The technology has been introduced at the farm of young farmer Nure Alam in Gobindapur village, Naogaon Sadar upazila, with funding from the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) and implementation by the private development organisation Moushumi.

Instead of the conventional manual method, the farm uses smart sensors. Through these sensors, the farm's internal temperature, humidity and harmful ammonia gas levels are monitored 24 hours a day. The collected data reaches the farmer's mobile phone app or monitoring dashboard instantly.

Those involved say a favourable farm environment is essential for the normal growth and health of livestock. In excessive heat, cattle can suffer heat stress. That hampers their normal growth and also increases the risk of disease. On the other hand, there is a shortage of skilled farm workers in rural areas. IoT technology is playing an effective role in tackling these challenges.

If the farm's temperature or humidity changes abnormally, or the ammonia gas level rises, a warning arrives on the farmer's mobile phone. Not only that, the farm's fans, blowers, lights, sprinklers and exhaust fans can be switched on or off remotely through the app. This keeps a favourable environment in the farm and makes it possible to act quickly in an emergency.

Speaking about the benefits of the technology, farmer Nure Alam said: "Earlier, when the weather was bad or it was excessively hot, the cattle would fall sick. It was hard to tell whether gas had built up in the farm. Now I get all the information on my phone app through the sensors. Even when I am away, I can switch on the fan or sprinkler from my mobile. Dependence on workers has fallen, and as livestock disease has decreased, production has increased a lot."

Local farmer Ekramul Haque said: "Managing a farm with just a handful of workers and keeping the cattle healthy was always hard for us. Now I see that the farm's fans and temperature can all be controlled with a mobile phone app. I am truly amazed to see this. If the use of such technology increases on the farms of marginal farmers like us, there will be no risk of losses."

Nur Hossain, livestock officer of the development organisation Moushumi, said: "The use of IoT technology in cattle farms has opened a new horizon in livestock rearing. In traditional farms, heat stress and excess humidity hampered animals' growth, which put farmers at great risk. The farmer Nure Alam of Gobindapur is now a shining example. This initiative, implemented with PKSF's support, proves that modern technology can reduce farm risks and turn it into a profitable business."

Dr. Mohammad Aminul Islam, Sadar upazila livestock officer, said: "The use of modern technology in livestock rearing is now the demand of the time. In the traditional method, farmers often face major losses due to temperature or heat stress. The successful application of IoT technology at this farm in Gobindapur village of Naogaon will take our dairy sector one step further. From the Department of Livestock Services, we are always ready to provide all kinds of technical support and advice to such technology-based farms."