Kerala govt's novel idea: Online store for pets, livestock to start soon

KOCHI: The government is in the final stages of setting up an online store for buying and selling domestic animals and birds. The Kerala Livestock Development Board (KLDB) will implement the project this year. This is the first of its kind in the country.

People will be able to buy and sell everything from cats and dogs to livestock, chickens, birds, and ornamental fish. The breed, age, health information, gestational age, milk yield, and expected price of the cattle can be recorded on the site. The online store was conceived by Animal Husbandry Minister J. Chinchu Rani.

Startup Mission is preparing the online store and app. Discussions have been completed with more than 60 companies. The service will be free in the first phase, with a small user fee likely to be introduced in the later phases.

Services will also be provided through Akshaya Centers for those with low digital literacy. Transportation facilities to transport animals will also be arranged through the online store at a fixed rate.

Information to be provided

• Full details of the animal, pictures, and price

• Health/registration certificates

• Vaccination details, phone number, and address

What Government ensures

• Accurate audit and transparent transactions

• Eliminating middlemen

• Transportation system