ICAR-NBAGR participated in the ‘Regional Training for 21st Livestock Census on software (mobile app/dash board) and breeds’ conducted for the Nodal officers-Livestock Census of Eastern states on 20th July 2024 at Puri (Odisha). The training program was conducted under the aegis of Dept. of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of FAHD, Govt. of India in collaboration with Dept. of Fisheries and Animal Resources Development (FARD), Govt. of Odisha. Around 200 State and District Nodal Officers of Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar states attended the training program. Animal Husbandry Directors, Officers of Central & State Governments were also present.
21st Livestock Census would be conducted during September-December 2024 in all states/UTs by the Animal Husbandry & Statistics Division of DAHD, Govt. of India. This third Breed-wise Census would include 219 indigenous breeds registered by the ICAR-NBAGR. The Bureau is supporting the DAHD through providing breed information and capacity building programs for accurate enumeration.
The Chief Guest of the function, Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel, Hon’ble Union Minister of State of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, and Panchayati Raj, Govt. of India addressed the delegates and emphasized over the importance of Livestock data for the formulation of the policy for livestock improvement in the country. Giving the importance for conducting the breed wise Census, he told the data would be useful for the improvement of the breeds.
Sh Gokulananda Mallik, Hon’ble Minister of FARD, Govt. of Odisha said the accurate enumeration of animals would be helpful for designing the strategy for genetic improvement and disease control programs in the states.
Smt. Alka Upadhyaya, Secretary, DAHD, Govt. of India, through her message urged to all the Nodal Officers for conducting the Census efficiently. Sh. Suresh Kumar Vashishth, Principal Secretary, Dept. of FARD, Govt. of Odisha; Shri Jagat Hazarika, Advisor, AHS, Govt. of India also expressed their views on the Livestock Census.
Dr BP Mishra, Director ICAR-NBAGR during inauguration said that the region is rich in livestock and poultry diversity, however many of new breeds need to be documented. Bureau is working in collaboration with state agencies to document and register new potential breeds, he said.
Further, Bureau provided the trainings on the breeds included in the Livestock Census to all the Nodal Officers. Dr Mishra presented the overview of the indigenous breeds to be included in the 21st Livestock Census and described the roles of State and District Nodal Officers during conducting the Breed wise animal enumeration. Dr. S K Niranjan, Nodal Officer, Livestock Census (2024), NBAGR provided the training on the indigenous and other probable breeds of these states to the Nodal officers. He described the physical characteristics, distinguishable features and breeding tract of the native breeds.
Earlier Regional Trainings for eight NEH states, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh & Uttarakhand was also conducted by the DAHD, wherein the Bureau’s scientists provided the training about indigenous breeds to the State/District Nodal Officers of these states.
Hon’ble Union Minster of State addressing the delegates
Director NBAGR addressing the State/District Nodal Officers