Backyard poultry bird count jumps in latest livestock census

The data released yesterday shows that while overall the number of India's poultry birds have risen from 729.2 million to 851.8 million as the 2019 census, an increase of almost 17 per cent

In a significant development for India’s rural landscape, the latest provisional data of 20th livestock census shows a sharp increase in backyard poultry birds between 2012 and 2019, as compared to rise in birds from commercial poultry farms.

Number of India’s poultry birds has risen from 729.2 million to 851.8 million, an increase of almost 17 per cent, shows the data.

The census was launched in October 2018.

The data shows that the number of backyard poultry birds has risen by a staggering 46 per cent between 2012 to 2019.

These include, fowls, ducks, emu, turkeys, quail and other birds.