Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: Livestock provide increased economic stability to the farm or household, acting as a cash buffer (small livestock) and as capital reserve (large animals), as well as a deterrent against inflation, stated Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal husbandry & Dairying Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel and further added in mixed-farming systems, livestock reduce the risks associated with crop production.
Prof. S. P Baghel was speaking as a keynote speaker after inaugurating a one day training workshop in the city today. The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India has organized a one day training programme on Regional Training for the State, District Nodal Officers Enumerators of the State Goa and Kerala. Around 27 persons as SNO, DNO and Enumerators from Kerala while from Goa 15 officials of above designation and 8 Liaison Officers participated in the workshop.
Prof. Baghel in his keynote added highlighting the importance of the Livestock Census said it is an important exercise which has been conducted every five years since 1919 for gathering information related to the country’s livestock population. The data collected through the Livestock Census has a wide use in our country as well as internationally.
Prof. Baghel further said that the data collected through livestock census is mainly used by FAO. The FAO is the major user of this data internationally. Livestock with pastoralists, women participation in this sector, count livestock separately for 219 registered breeds are some unique features of 21st Livestock Census. We use the Census data in the centre, for formulation of policy/ schemes for development and welfare of the livestock sector. The insight derived from this day-long workshop would help in the field in conducting livestock census, he added.
Advisor Statistics DAH & D, Government of India Mr. Jagat Hazarika while speaking at the workshop said that as we are going to conduct the actual field work of Livestock Census during Sept.- Dec. 2024 and before that all of our field functionaries are to be trained properly on concepts and definitions used in this Census including HH, HHE, NHHE, Institutes, pastoralists, gaushalas and with application of mobile app, dashboard monitoring, breed identification and so on.
Hazarika appealed to both the State directors to conduct their State level and sub-State level training for supervisors and enumerators well before launching the actual field work.
Hazarika, emphasizing on the importance of the livestock sector said it has a pivotal role in our agrarian economy. So for effective planning for the development of this sector, we need accurate data and on time. For taking decisions for all our plans & policy for vaccination, disease control, livestock insurance, food & fodder management, these data is of immense importance. Of course, visiting about 27 crore HH to capture livestock with each and every corner of the country, is a great challenge for us which we are committed to achieve. We along with our State counterparts will definitely produce an accurate set of data for the country’s policy makers, he said and sought support for the success of today’s workshop and thereby the success of our ambitious Livestock Census.
Secretary Environment Government of Goa Shri Arun Kumar Mishra IAS and Director ICAR, NBGR Dr. B. P. Mishra also spoke on the occasion
Director, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Government of Goa Dr. Nitin Naik welcomed the gathering whereas the Director AHS, DSHD Government of India Shri V. P. Singh proposed the vote of thanks.
