Government extends field work for 20th Livestock Census by a month

Pashu Sandesh, 29th March 2019
In a significant move, Government of India extends field work for the 20th Livestock Census by one month. The ongoing 20th Livestock Census was scheduled to be finished by the end of this month.

In a letter issued to the Directors of AH of all States by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying GOI dated 28th March, it is directed to continue the fieldwork till 30th April 2019. The reasons cited among many are the issues related to the slow server speeds in many States which are making difficult the Data uploading from the remote areas. The government has written in this regard to the National Information Centre to find a permanent solution to the problem for the faster upload of the Animal Census Data.

The 20th Livestock Census is unique in the sense that for the first time the complete Data is collected digitally and uploaded in real time to the National Centre for the collation and analysis. To complete this herculean task the Field Vets and paravets are being provided with Tablets with pre-loaded software for the Data Collection and upload. Vets were given training for the purpose but the delay shows the magnitude of the task.

Out of all the States which are undergoing the Data collection, only Telangana, Karnataka, Chattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh have reported the completion of the Task well within the stipulated time. With the issue of the new deadline the Government hopes to complete the field work much earlier than 30th April with enough time for Data Validation by the State AH officials.