ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources organized Annual Review Meet on ‘Network Project on Animal Genetic Resources’ (NWP-AnGR) during 30-31st January 2025 at the Bureau. Total 44 participants including Principal Investigators of 33 Network Centres participated in the review Meeting and presented the progress report of their respective centres /states.The NWP-AnGR is one of the largest frameworks of ICAR, with 33 Network Centres across the 26 States/Union Territories (UT) and involve ICAR institutes, State Animal Husbandry Departments, State Agriculture/Veterinary Universities, NGOs for characterization and conservation of indigenous AnGR diversity in the country.
The Meeting was chaired by Dr Raghavendra Bhatta, Deputy Director General (Animal Science), ICAR, New Delhi. Addressing the delegates, he emphasized over documenting the indigenous AnGR and registering potential breeds to reduce non-descript livestock population. Appreciating the efforts of NBAGR for initiating ‘Mission towards Zero Non-descript AnGR’in the country, he told thatNWP Centres would play a crucial role to complete this mammoth task. Dr G K Gaur, Assistant Director General (Animal Production & Breeding), ICAR, in his inaugural address, emphasized over registration of indigenous breeds of livestock and poultry in the country. Dr B P Mishra, Director ICAR-NBAGR & Project Coordinator (NWP-AnGR) informed about the characterization activities of various Network Centres.
During the meeting, the progress (year 2023-24) of all the centres was reviewed comprehensively by the DDG (AS) and ADG (AP&B), ICAR. Many of the suggestions were given for improvement of the project. Under NWP-AnGR, total 53 potential populations of indigenous livestock, poultry and dog were taken for characterization by the participating centres, among these, the documentation of 15 populations has been completed during the period. The dignitaries also visited the National Bovine Genome Centre -Indigenous Breeds (NBGC-IB), involved in genomic selection program in dairy breeds, at the Bureau, in collaboration with NDDB. Dr R K Pundir, Head AGR Division & Nodal Officer NBGC-IB apprised about the activities of the centre. Dr A K Mishra, In-charge NWP-AnGR and Dr S K Niranjan, In-charge PME Cell coordinated the Meet.
