• Census to be conducted digitally according to breed & other characteristics of animals, says Gurmeet Singh Khudian
• Pet dogs and cats will also be counted by their breeds for first time
• Animal Husbandry Minister reviews dept’s preparedness to accomplish this extensive field survey
Chandigarh, July 17:
Punjab Animal Husbandry Department is geared up to conduct the 21st Livestock Census in the state from September onwards, informed Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian.
Chairing a state-level meeting to review the ongoing projects of the department here at Kisan Bhawan, on Wednesday, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that this is for the second time, after 2019, that the Census will be conducted digitally, using tablet computers for data collection of animals, according to their breed and other characteristics. According to the statistics provided by the Government of India, the census will be conducted of over 64.75 lakh livestock and poultry in the state, he added.
He said that this would be for the first time that pet dogs and cats will also be counted by their breeds. This is also for the first time that cattle at Gaushalas and cattle being reared by Nomadic tribes will be counted separately, he added.
The Animal Husbandry Minister said that there will be a one state nodal officer, five zonal nodal officers, 23 district nodal officers, 392 supervisors and 1962 enumerators to accomplish this extensive field survey. Enumerators will visit each household to record the number of animals according to their breeds and other characteristics, he added.
Joint Secretary of Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries department Mr. Bikramjit Singh Shergill apprised the cabinet minister said that all the concerned officers are undergoing training to conduct this census and their training will be completed in August, while assuring that all arrangements have been made for smooth and impeccable census.
During the meeting, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian also reviewed the functioning of veterinary health facilities, OPD, vaccination and artificial insemination. He directed the department officials that livestock farmers should not face any problem and their welfare should be the priority of the department.
Director Animal Husbandry Dr. Gursharanjit Singh Bedi said that the department will get the literature printed on different diseases of animals and their preventions and will assure it’s distribution in the villages of Punjab.
