| More
Information |
|
|
|
|
| Category |
KARNAL DECLARATION |
|
|
| Title |
Need for a National indigenous animal breed conservation and protection authority |
|
|
| Abstract |
Karnal Declaration calls for conservation of livestock in situ and conservation of the respective ecosystems at the National Workshop on Livestock Keepers’ Rights, Karnal, 8-10 July 2014 |
|
|
| Details |
Karnal Declaration: The conservation and augmentation of indigenous livestock and poultry breeds can only be successful by adoption of an in-situ mode along with the conservation of the respective ecosystems. This was the key thrust of the Karnal Declaration, an important outcome of the four-day National Workshop on Livestock Keepers’ Rights and Breed Saviour Award ceremony at the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR), Karnal. (Please see box for more details of the Karnal Declaration). The event was organised by SEVA Madurai, NBAGR and the National Biodiversity Authority, Government of India.
Karnal Declaration for Conservation and Augmentation of Indigenous Livestock Breeds
1. Breeders’ Associations should be established for each of the livestock and poultry breeds in their respective breeding tracts. These associations should be linked/ registered with a national level authority/foundation or through a federation of animal breeders’ associations and should meet at least once a year to exchange experiences and views on different aspects of the management of animal genetic resources.
2. A National Authority on animal genetic resources may be established to register, conserve and augment indigenous animal breeds. This Authority should be established under the umbrella of an Act of the Indian Constitution. It should promote capacity building of livestock keepers, conserve native breeds through incentives and enable access to grazing land, drinking water, shelter, health and services, credit and marketing of products.
3. The conservation of livestock and poultry breeds can be successful in a true sense only under an in-situ mode along with the conservation of their respective eco-systems. Therefore, the conservation of pasture land and associated water and eco-systems are essential for the conservation of livestock and poultry diversity.
4. Computer applications should be developed on tablets or mobile phones for pedigree and performance data recording of the livestock and poultry breeds, for information on different aspects of livestock management, habitat and climate adaptive potential. For this purpose, training of livestock keepers and their children may be taken up on a large scale.
5. Every Member of Parliament and Legislative Assembly should be persuaded to allocate 5% of their funds to the conservation of local breeds.
6. Veterinary science UG/PG students should study and document animal breeder communities and their way of managing animal genetic resources during internship programs of at least one-month’s residence in the villages.
7. Women’s knowledge about livestock breeds, behaviour, psychology, peculiar habits, management needs etc. should be recorded and documented. Special training should be given to women for empowering them with the management of animal genetic resources.
8. National awards should be given to livestock keepers, to communities for their contribution to the conservation of livestock diversity as well as the eco-system, especially pasture land.
9. Identification of markers and other indicators to enable children of breeders to support the purity of breeds. A special scholarship scheme is required for encouraging youth to conserve breeds and support the development of documented formal knowledge systems.
10. Document outstanding practices / innovations of breed conservators and link with the National Register of grassroots innovations and traditional knowledge of the National Innovation Foundation for dissemination / recognition / rewards. |
|
|
| Volume No. |
Honey Bee 25(2) 9-10, 2014 |
