21st LIVESTOCK CENSUS

GS-3: ECONOMY

THE CONTEXT:

The Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairy recently ( 27th Oct 2024) launched the 21st Livestock Census in New Delhi.

EXPLANATION:

About 21st Livestock Census:

  • The Livestock Census is conducted every five years.
  • The census carries out a headcount of the number of domesticated animals, poultry, and stray animals in the country.
  • The census takes into account information about the species, breed, age, sex, and ownership status of the animals in question.
  • Background:Since 1919, a total of 20 livestock censuses have been carried out so far, with the last being conducted in 2019.
  • The enumeration process for the 21st census will take place between October 2024 to February 2025.
  • Focus of 21st Livestock Census
    • According to the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, information on sixteen animal specieswill be collected in the 21st census. These include: cattle, buffalo, mithun, yak, sheep, goat, pig, camel, horse, ponies, mule, donkey, dog, rabbit, and elephant.
    • In total, the census will capture information on 219 indigenous breedsof these sixteen species recognised by ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR).
    • Besides these, the census will also carry out a headcount of poultry birdssuch as fowl, chicken, duck, turkey, geese, quail, ostrich, and emu.
  • The census this time will be fully digitised, like the last one in 2019.
  • This will include “online data collection through a mobile application, monitoring at various levels through a digital dashboard, capturing the latitude and longitude of data collection location, and generation of livestock census report through software.
  • The 21st census will capture several new data points. These include:
    • Data on pastoral animals, pastoralists:The census will, for the first time, collect data on the contribution of pastoralists to the livestock sector, their socio-economic status, and livestock holding.
    • More details, granular information:The census will find out the proportion of households whose major income comes from the livestock sector. It will also contain data on the gender of stray cattle.

Source:

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-economics/livestock-census-21st-9640278/

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