Bureau organized 14th State Interface Meet with Arunachal Pradesh and Farmers Awareness programs on AnGR management

The 14^th State-specific Interface meeting on ‘Characterization and Documentation of Animal Genetic Resources of Arunachal Pradesh’ was organized by ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources in collaboration with the Department of Animal Husbandry, Veterinary & Dairy Development (AHVDD), Arunachal Pradesh at Directorate of AHVDD, Nirjuli-Itanagar on 23^rd March, 2023 under “Mission towards zero non-descript AnGR of India”. About 60 delegates including Officers of AHVDD, Arunachal Pradesh State Biodiversity Board, Scientists of ICAR and scholars of Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh participated in the Meet.

Delivering the Keynote address, Dr BP Mishra, Director, ICAR-NBAGR outlined the Mission towards Zero Non-descript AnGR in the country and presented a roadmap to achieve the Mission objective. He said the state is rich in farm animal biodiversity, however a large proportion of the state’s AnGR is still non-descript. The Bureau has initiated documenting native AnGR in collaboration with AHVDD, he informed. 

Ms Koj Rinya IFS, Secretary, Arunachal Pradesh State Biodiversity Board, appreciated the efforts of the Bureau for documenting the large farm AnGR diversity of Arunachal Pradesh. Delineating the importance of agrobiodiversity under the ambit of the Convention of Biological Diversity, she further said that the farm animal biodiversity would also be a part of the People Biodiversity Register being developed at the village, block, and district levels. These efforts would be important for the Access & Benefits Sharing among the stakeholders, she said.

Dr Mihir Sarkar, Director, ICAR-NRC on Yak in his address, highlighted the importance and contribution of native AnGR, specifically yak in Kameng-Tawang region of the state. He informed the efforts of the Centre for improvement of Arunachali yak in the region.

During the welcome address, Dr Tachi Taku, Deputy Director, AHVDD described the activities of the Department for improvement and development of AnGR in the state.

During the technical session, Dr Taba Heli, Deputy Director (Planning), AHVDD presented the activities for documentation of native cattle of Kameng-Tawang region under Network Program at Arunachal Pradesh. Dr S K Niranjan, Principal Scientist of the Bureau described the diversity of the native AnGR in the state and strategies for further characterizing and registering potential breeds. The panel discussion was also held on documentation of native AnGR of the state, wherein experts including Dr Bina Mishra of ICAR-NBAGR, Dr Mito Nyodu and Dr T Gammi of AHVDD offered their views.   

Bureau on 24^th and 25^th of March, 2023 also organized Farmers Awareness Programs on AnGR management at Ziro of Lower Subansiri district and at Palin of Kra Daadi district, respectively in collaboration with AHVDDD under NEH Scheme. The livestock keepers/farmers were sensitized about the importance and uniqueness of native animals and their improved management by the Bureau’s scientists in an interactive mode. Information and data on ecosystem services and ITK pertaining to native AnGR were also collected from the livestock keepers. Feed supplements and other common health & growth promoting medicines were distributed among 50 livestock keepers/farmers of the region during these programs.