The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), in collaboration with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and CGIAR, has launched PigSmart — a new digital messaging platform designed to transform veterinary extension services for smallholder pig farmers across Uganda.

The initiative aims to close the information gap that limits productivity and animal health in the country’s growing piggery sector. Through audio messages, SMS alerts, and printed materials in local languages, PigSmart delivers practical, science-based information on pig feeding, breeding, disease prevention, waste management, and market access.

The platform was first piloted in Mpigi, Masaka, Mukono, and Wakiso districts, reaching more than 1,200 farmers organized into 55 farmer groups. Following its early success, the project has now expanded to Kalangala District, where over 500 farmers (393 women and 107 men) received two improved piglets each as part of a scale-up effort.

According to Dr. Nicholas Kauta, a senior veterinary officer at MAAIF, “PigSmart will enable farmers to access reliable veterinary guidance and respond quickly to animal health issues, especially during outbreaks like African Swine Fever.”

Uganda’s pig population continues to grow, but challenges such as disease outbreaks, poor breeding practices, and limited veterinary extension services have hindered productivity. With PigSmart, authorities hope to empower farmers to make data-driven decisions that improve animal welfare, biosecurity, and household income.

The PigSmart rollout is part of a broader push by the Ugandan government and its partners to digitize agricultural extension systems under the Sustainable Animal Productivity for Livelihoods, Income, Nutrition, and Governance (SAPLING) program, which supports innovation and inclusion in livestock value chains.