Srinagar: The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India, in collaboration with the Jammu & Kashmir government, hosted a regional training session for the 21st Livestock Census.
This workshop was organized to train State and District Nodal Officers (SNO/DNO) of Jammu & Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh on the newly launched software tools and methodologies for conducting the census, scheduled for September-December 2024.
Alka Upadhyaya conveyed her best wishes for the successful completion of the 21st Livestock Census through a virtual address, where she also discussed the significant impact of the livestock sector on the Indian economy and India’s position in global trade.
The workshop was inaugurated by Jagat Hazarika, Advisor (Statistics), DAHD, in the presence of key officials, including G A Sofi, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture Production, Government of Jammu & Kashmir; Dr. B.P. Mishra, Director, ICAR-NBAGR; V.P. Singh, Director, Statistics Division, DAHD; and Dr. Altaf Ahmad Laway, Director, Animal Husbandry Department, Kashmir.
The ceremony began with the national anthem and a ceremonial lamp lighting, followed by addresses from the dignitaries that underscored the importance of technology-driven, accurate data collection for the census. Hazarika emphasized the collective responsibility of stakeholders to ensure the success of this vital census, which will influence future policies and programs in the Animal Husbandry sector.
G A Sofi highlighted the need for comprehensive training and capacity building at the grassroots level, stressing the importance of livestock to India’s economy and food security. He emphasized that meticulous planning and execution of the census would be critical in shaping future initiatives in the sector.
Dr. Altaf Ahmad Laway focused on the integration of sustainable practices within the livestock sector, noting that the data from the census would be crucial for formulating departmental policies, implementing programs, creating new schemes, and generating employment for livestock farmers. He also discussed the adoption of best practices in milk production by the J&K government and the financial empowerment of farmers through livestock.
The workshop featured detailed sessions on the methodologies and live application of the software for the 21st Livestock Census, led by the Software team from the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying. The training equipped the Nodal Officers with the skills needed to train enumerators at their respective district headquarters.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks from V.P. Singh, who expressed gratitude to all participants and dignitaries, ending on a hopeful note for a successful census operation.
