Sensitization Meeting Held for 21st Livestock Census to Ensure Comprehensive and Accurate Data Collection

New Delhi: Today, Smt. Alka Upadhyaya, Secretary of the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, presided over a Sensitization Meeting for the upcoming 21st Livestock Census. The meeting gathered senior officers from States/UTs and members of the Technical Committee to discuss the survey schedule and assess the preparedness of States/UTs and the Department for the 21st Livestock Census.

The meeting included discussions on:

The survey schedule devised for the 21st Livestock Census.
The preparedness of States/UTs and the Department for the upcoming census.
In attendance were Ms. Varsa Joshi, Additional Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Dr. Abhijit Mitra, Animal Husbandry Commissioner cum TCD Chairman, Shri Jagat Hazarika, Advisor (Statistics), Department of Animal Husbandry & Fisheries, along with Principal Secretaries, Commissioners, Directors, and other senior members from Union and State Governments. Representatives from NAD-MoSPI and M/o Panchayati Raj were also present.

Given that breed-wise data of animals will be collected, the ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) will present the Statewide latest breed list for various species and provide insights into identifying breeds in the field.

The Livestock Census is not only crucial for implementing various programs in the Livestock Sector but also plays a significant role in the National Indicator Framework (NIF) of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

Livestock Census, conducted every five years since 1919, is a comprehensive door-to-door field operation that involves collecting data from every household, providing an accurate count of domesticated animals and birds to assess the nation’s total livestock wealth. The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India, conducts the Livestock Census. The last census, the 20th LC, was conducted in 2019.

The 21st Livestock Census is scheduled for 2024 and will be conducted with the active participation of States/UTs from September to December 2024. Leveraging mobile technology, the data will be collected and transmitted online. The enumeration will cover various species of animals, including cattle, buffalo, Mithun, yak, sheep, goat, pig, horse, pony, mule, donkey, camel, dog, rabbit, and elephant, as well as poultry birds, providing breed-wise data along with age and sex categorization.