ICAR-NBAGR supports DAHD, MoFAHD for conducting Livestock Census 2024 in the Country

Country’s 21^st Livestock Census is to be conducted during September-December 2024 in all the States and Union Territories by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of FAHD, Govt. of India. This is the third Breed-wise Census, which would include 220 breeds registered by the ICAR. ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR), Karnal is supporting the DAHD through providing breed information and capacity building programs for accurate enumeration. Animal Bureau regularly attending the workshops and technical committee meetings on Livestock Census being organized by the DAHD.

Recently, a comprehensive workshop to strategize and empower the States and Union Territories for preparation of 21^st Livestock Census was conducted on 25^th June 2024 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi by the DAHD. Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh Hon’ble Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Govt. of India and Senior Vice-President of the ICAR inaugurated the Workshop. He emphasized over the importance of the Census for formulation of various policies and implementation of programs for livestock improvement. Prof. S P Singh Baghel and Sh. George Kurian; Hon’ble Ministers of State, Ministry of FAHD were also present on this occasion. The workshop was attended by Mrs Alka Upadhyay, Secretary, DAHD, and other senior Officers of DAHD, Secretaries and Directors and other senior officers of Animal Husbandry Departments of various states/UTs, Technical experts attended the workshop.

Dr B P Mishra, Director NBAGR presented the breed details of species to be covered in 21^st Livestock Census in the workshop. He informed that the census is important for monitoring the breed diversity to prioritise the breeds for conservation. Using last Census data, a Breed Watchlist 2022 has been prepared by the Bureau and identified 38 breeds under risk. Bureau cryopreserved the germplasm of about two-third of breeds at risk and also initiated in situ conservation program on critical breeds. Bureau is also working in mission mode to reduce the non-descript livestock population in the country, he informed to the delegates.

Earlier, Bureau team also attended a workshop on ‘Pilot Survey for 21^st Livestock Census 2024’ held on 12^th June 2024 at Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh. The pilot survey would be conducted in selected regions of Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat and Odisha states in month of July, before conducting 21^st Livestock Census (2024).

Hon’ble Union Minister inaugurating the workshop at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi

Director NBAGR presenting breed information during Workshop at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi