Support the livestock census

Feb 20, 2008

PRESS reports yesterday showed that some individuals are resisting the on-going livestock census. It is absurd that even some local leaders, who should be encouraging the people to participate in this important exercise, are mobilising the masses against it.

PRESS reports yesterday showed that some individuals are resisting the on-going livestock census. It is absurd that even some local leaders, who should be encouraging the people to participate in this important exercise, are mobilising the masses against it.

It is important to note that census provide accurate data for planning purposes. It is this data that is used by policy makers and community leaders to make informed decisions. Poor data or the lack of it does not only increase costs through wasted resources, but also leads to wrong decisions whose consequences could be irredeemable.

The public should know that census data directly affect decisions made on all matters of national and local importance, including public-health care, rural development and the environment.

The Government is committed to the transformation of Uganda from a subsistence and primitive into a commercial and modern society.

As part of this process, the Government has launched the Plan for Modernisation of Agriculture in which millions of shillings is being spent. Accurate data is, therefore, important to guide the policy makers in the distribution of resources to support this process.

The livestock census form requires detailed information on which kind of domestic animals are kept. From the data provided, the policy makers shall not only be in a position to know the number of livestock in the country, but also their spatial distribution for planning and advisory purposes.

While some of the questions in the forms may appear irritating and irrelevant, the respondents should know that planners and policy makers in both the public and private sector need them for use, not necessarily now, but in the future.

The livestock census information is not only used to assess the social and economic status of households or people in a particular area but also to provide information on common livestock diseases in a region for planning and intervention purposes.

This exercise, therefore, calls for everybody’s support and the Government should firmly deal with the detractors lest this important exercise fails.

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