National Meet Starts In Amaravati To Firm Up Livestock Statistics

Vijayawada:The Technical Committee of Direction (TCD) on Livestock Statistics commenced its two-day meeting in Amaravati on Thursday. Senior policymakers, statisticians and sectoral experts are deliberating on firm up data-driven planning for strengthening India’s livestock economy.

The meeting is being attended by representatives from all states and union territories. Key participants include Kaal Singh, TCD chairman and director general (Statistics), Takheer Ahmed, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare special chief secretary, B. Rajasekhar, AP’s ex-officio special chief secretary (Animal Husbandry), Jagat Hazarika, central Animal Husbandry and Dairying department adviser, and T. Damodar Naidu, AP Animal Husbandry department director.

Officials from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Department of Animal Husbandry and Farmers’ Welfare, the Reserve Bank of India and Food and Agriculture Organisation are also taking part in the livestock assessment meeting.

Addressing the meeting, AP Animal Husbandry ex-officio special chief secretary Rajasekhar said Andhra Pradesh is a cornerstone of India’s livestock sector, home to world-renowned breeds, such as Ongole bulls and Punganur cattle, Godavari buffaloes, Nellore and Macherla sheep, and Aseel poultry. He explained that animal husbandry is generating higher income than services and industry in the state, whose revenue target is ₹2 lakh crore for 2025–26.

Union ministry’s Takheer Ahmed stressed on accurate survey of livestock, calling it vital for effective policymaking and the Digital Agriculture framework.

Adviser Jagat Hazarika highlighted the growing relevance of annual Livestock Sample Survey, saying the data guides designing and implementation of various schemes and programmes design.

TCD chairman Kaal Singh pointed to the steady growth in livestock products since the previous TCD meet in Pune in 2024.

AP Animal Husbandry director Damodar Naidu said Andhra Pradesh has completed a comprehensive survey of nearly 20 lakh livestock-rearing families, generating data that will address farmers’ challenges and guide future policy.