TOBA TEK SINGH: The 7th Agricultural Census 2024 is being conducted which will provide complete data of agriculture, livestock and agricultural machinery under an integrated approach to achieve goals of food security.

It was stated by UAF VC Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan while addressing the Agricultural Census Workshop at the university on Wednesday in collaboration with the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

Appreciating efforts of PBS in conducting agricultural census, he said an accurate data was vital for the development of any sector. He said there was need to revisit the current livestock data that seemed contrary to the factual situation.

Livestock and dairy development secretary Muhammad Masood Anwar expressed doubts about livestock statistics and said that the growth rate of Pakistan’s livestock was 2.7pc, while we have 40pc malnourished population.

He said the data regarding milk and meat production should be corrected. He said that the 7th Agricultural Census was an important development for the availability of factual data which would help in formulating policy to solve problems at the grassroots level.

He said not only animals but other related factors including manpower have to be brought in the fresh census. He said it was very important to meet the international standards for exporting of meat.

Chief of PBS Naeemuz Zafar said that agriculture policy provided a comprehensive picture of the agrarian economy of the country. “Since agriculture is a significant contributor to the GDP and employment, there is an urgent need to update the data for effective policy making at the national and provincial level.

Muhammad Sarwar Gondal, a PBS member, said that since 1960, there have been six census of agriculture, four of livestock, five of agricultural machinery and nine of mouzas whereas in India 11 agricultural censuses had already been conducted so far.

He said last agricultural census in Pakistan was conducted in 2010 and his department had conducted recent population census. He said that the purpose of agricultural census was to provide authentic statistics for food security.

He said information about commodities, milk, meat and manpower would be provided on the basis of area. Member Planning and Development Aslam Javed and Deputy Director Rabia Awan also spoke.

Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2024