DAHD Conducts Regional Training for 21st Livestock Census in Odisha

The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, in collaboration with the host state of Odisha, conducted a comprehensive “Regional Training of 21st Livestock Census on Software (Mobile & Web Application/Dashboard) and Breeds” for State and District Nodal Officers from Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand. The workshop, aimed at equipping officers with the necessary skills and knowledge for the upcoming Livestock Census scheduled for September-December 2024, took place today in Puri, Odisha.

The event was inaugurated by the Chief Guest, Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, in the presence of key dignitaries, including Shri Gokulananda Mallik, Minister of State, F&ARD, Government of Odisha, Shri Sunil Kumar Mohanty, Member of Legislative Assembly, Puri, Shri Suresh Kumar Vashishtha, Principal Secretary, AH&VS, Government of Odisha, Dr. B.P. Mishra, Director, ICAR-NBAGR, Shri Jagat Hazarika, Advisor (Statistics), Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, and Shri Ramashis Hazra, Director, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Sciences, Odisha.

In his address, MoS Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel emphasized the crucial role of comprehensive training and capacity building at the grassroots level. Highlighting that Odisha and West Bengal have the highest number of livestock in India, he underscored the significance of the livestock sector to India’s economy and food security. He stressed the importance of meticulous planning and execution of the census, noting that the data collected will be vital for shaping future initiatives and addressing sector challenges.

Smt. Alka Upadhyaya conveyed her best wishes and greetings for the 21st Livestock Census virtually, sharing insights into the livestock sector’s impact on the Indian economy and India’s position in global livestock trade.

Shri Gokulananda Mallik emphasized the integration of sustainable practices within the livestock sector. He pointed out that the data analysis from the livestock census would guide the formulation of future departmental policies, implementation of programs, and creation of new schemes, thereby generating employment and benefiting livestock farmers.

Shri Suresh Kumar Vashishtha likened livestock to wealth and assets, often referred to as “pashudhan”. He highlighted the department’s recent renaming to Animal Resource Development, reflecting its significance on par with Human Resource Development. He also discussed the adoption of best practices in milk production from Bihar by the Odisha government and how livestock contributes to the financial empowerment of farmers. He highlighted the latest technologies developed by DAHD, such as sex-sorted semen.

Shri Jagat Hazarika, Advisor (Statistics), DAHD, emphasized the importance of leveraging technology for accurate and efficient data collection. He stressed the collective responsibility of all stakeholders to ensure the success of the 21st Livestock Census, which will be crucial in shaping future policies and programs in the Animal Husbandry sector.

The workshop included sessions beginning with an overview of the 21st Livestock Census by the Animal Husbandry Statistics Division, followed by a detailed presentation from Dr. B.P. Mishra and his team from ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) on the breed details of species to be covered in the census. The importance of accurate breed identification was emphasized for producing precise statistics used in various livestock sector programs and the National Indicator Framework (NIF) of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

The training also included detailed sessions on methodologies and live application of the software for the 21st Livestock Census, conducted by the DAHD Software team. State and District Nodal Officers were trained on the mobile application and dashboard software, preparing them to train enumerators at their respective District Headquarters.

Sh. V.P. Singh, Director of the Animal Husbandry Statistics Division at DAHD, expressed gratitude to all dignitaries and stakeholders for their presence and concluded the workshop on a hopeful note, anticipating a successful census operation.