Algarve shepherds will be able to control their flocks with the help of geolocation technology (GPS), within the framework of a pilot project launched this Tuesday in Silves, which consisted of placing electronic collars on the animals.
“We choose two animals per herd and we will put collars on them that will allow, among other things, to facilitate the control of the herds,” the project coordinator, João Cassinello, told reporters at a livestock farm north of Algoz, in the municipality. of Silves.
The technician, who works at the Algarve Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR), explained that the use and dissemination of this technology, based on georeferenced information systems (GIS), is one of the components of one of the lines of Revitalgarve action, the project that aims to contribute to the revitalization of rural areas in the region.
The pilot project will be applied to a total of five herds (four sheep and one goat) with the placement of two electronic collars per herd, with the aim of monitoring and monitoring the behavior of the animals.
“Only with time will we see if this works and if it really helps us,” said one of the owners of the flock, after witnessing the placement of collars on two Churra animals from their flock of 200 sheep.
Anabela Coelho, who can now check the location of the herd at any time via cell phone, said that the use that seems most obvious to her will be “to know where the animals that escaped are, after having been attacked by dogs.”
According to Revitalgarve technicians, The introduction of this technology will not only make it easier for shepherds to know the exact location of their flock, but will also allow “other productive parameters to be obtained.”
“It will also promote better management of pastures and territory, especially in maintaining cleaner areas that are more resilient to rural fires,” according to the explanation given to journalists.
Also present at the placement ceremony, Pastor Rogério Ponte confessed that he was still unaware of the possible benefits of the technology that was going to be introduced: “No one has yet explained to me what all this is for,” he said.
During the afternoon, more electronic collars will be placed on a fruit farm in Conceição de Tavira, also in the Algarve, which uses a flock of sheep to control weeds.
“This pilot project is of a demonstrative nature, so other producers will also adopt this new technology in the future,” said Pedro Valadas Monteiro, vice president of the CCDR do Algarve, responsible for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries.
Revitalgarve is a project funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), based on a network of 12 public and private partners, which aims to create an organization model for the Algarve food system, based on a network of local producers and local consumption of products.
Source: Observadora
