( MENAFN - KNN India) New Delhi, Oct 26 (KNN) Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh officially launched the 21st Livestock Census on Friday, emphasising the significance of accurate data in shaping government policies for animal health security and promoting growth within the sector. The census will run from October 2024 to February 2025, with a budget of Rs 200 crore funded entirely by the central government. This initiative aims to collect comprehensive data on 219 indigenous breeds across 16 species, involving approximately 100,000 field officials, primarily veterinarians and para-veterinarians, in the enumeration process.
Addressing the launch event, Singh stressed the importance of conducting the census with "full honesty and sincerity," urging ministry officials to monitor the operation closely. The data gathered is expected to aid in developing strategies to improve animal health, control diseases, and enhance breed improvement. Notably, Singh pointed out that despite India being the world's largest milk producer, it has struggled to export dairy products significantly.
In conjunction with the census, Singh also announced the establishment of a USD 25 million 'Pandemic Fund Project' aimed at bolstering animal health security in India for better pandemic preparedness and response. Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa, underscored the critical link between animal health and human health, stating that strengthening animal health security could help mitigate the risk of zoonotic diseases .