DHAKA, Oct 27, 2019 (BSS) – There is some 3,55,33,180 dwelling households in Bangladesh while the total number of poultry reached 18,92,62,901 and cows 2,84,87,415, according to the preliminary report of the Agriculture Census 2019 revealed today.
The report also showed that out of the total number of poultry found in the country, some 1,81,18,825 were found in the rural areas while the rest of 80,74,076 in the urban areas.
It also revealed that of the total number of cows, 2,76,58,488 were found in the rural areas while the rest of 8,28,927 in the urban areas. In addition, a total number of 1,92,87,413 goats were found including 1,87,73,844 in the rural areas while the rest of 5,13,569 in the urban areas.
This was revealed at the launching ceremony of the Preliminary Report of Agriculture Census 2019 held at the auditorium of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) in the city’s Agargaon Area today.
Planning Minister MA Mannan graced the function as the chief guest while Statistics Division Secretary Saurendra Nath Chakrabhartty, Agriculture Secretary Md Nasiruzzaman, Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Md. Raisul Alam Mondal and BBS Director General Mohammad Tajul Islam spoke on the occasion as special guests.
Project Director of the Agriculture Census Jafor Ahmed Khan made a power-point presentation highlighting the findings of the census.
The preliminary report showed that out of the 35533180 dwelling households found during the enumeration period, some 29624975 (83.37%) households are in the rural areas while the rest of 5908205 (16.63%) are in the urban areas. Dhaka Division has the highest number (26.88%) of households followed by Chattogram and Rajshahi with 17.62 percent and 13.57 percent respectively.
Speaking on the occasion, Planning Minister MA Mannan thanked all concerned officials and enumerators associated with the Agriculture Census 2019 for making it a success and also asked the Statistics Division and BBS to further review the census findings before publishing a flawless final report of the census.
Reiterating the present government’s vision to turn the BBS as a strong national statistical organization since accurate data is the base for all short and long-term plans and successfully implementing the SDGs, Mannan said the government would continue to work for taking BBS into a much higher position.
Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Md. Raisul Alam Mondal underscored the need for incorporating the statistics of the production of egg, milk, hilsha, shrimp, sweet-water fisheries alongside marine fisheries in the future work of the BBS since these were not highlighted in this census.
He also noted that the country is yet to capitalize fully the marine fisheries at the Bay of Bengal due to lack of investment by the private sector as it takes a hefty amount for procuring marine fisheries extracting ships.
Agriculture Secretary Nasiruzzaman stressed the need for harmonizing the data and statistics of the Ministry of Agriculture and the BBS so that there is no unmatched data.
He also suggested for counting the production of some agricultural iteams like sweet potato, sunflower, soybean, chickpeas, maskalai pulse as well as taking into account the production of rooftop gardens and floating crop beds.
The preliminary report said that a total of 995135 households were found as fisheries household which accounts for 2.80 percent of the total dwelling households. On the other hand, some 16562974 households in Bangladesh were found as agriculture farm households which accounts for 46.61 percent of the total households.
It also revealed that out of the total 35533180 households, some 4024189 are absolutely landless who does not have any type of land. Dhaka Division has the highest percentage (18.64%) of landless households followed by Syllet and Khulna with 13.61 percent and 9.80 percent respectively.
Agriculture Census 2019 is the 6th round of its nature followed by 2008, 1996, 1983-84, 1977 and 1960. Under the purview of the census, the targeted population was all dwelling households of the country.
Agriculture Census 2019 was carried out in accordance with the broad guidelines provided by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The census operation was carried out throughout the country with full count basis from June 09-20, 2019 involving total enumerating areas of 1,63,674.