Bureau scientists conducted Interface Meet and documented AnGR of Lakshadweep under the Mission

ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources organized an 17^th State Interface Meet with Union Territory of Lakshadweep on ‘Characterization and Documentation of AnGR of Lakshadweep’ at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kavaratti on 26^th April, 2024; in collaboration with KVK-CMFRI, Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services, Govt. of Lakshadweep. Lakshadweep is 2^nd Union Territory for Interface Meet has been carried out to sensitize the stakeholders about AnGR management and to initiate documentation of indigenous livestock and poultry under the “Mission towards zero non-descript AnGR of India”.

About 30 delegates including Officers of State Animal Husbandry Dept., KVK, progressive farmers attended the Meet.

Dr R K Gandham, Head Animal Biotechnology, ICAR-NBAGR welcomed the delegates during Interface Meet. Dr BP Mishra, Director, ICAR-NBAGR, in his Keynote address outlined the Mission towards Zero Non-descript AnGR in the country and presented a roadmap to achieve the objective of the Mission. He supplemented that Lakshadweep is a unique eco- and production system, which might have helped to evolve some special animal populations in the region. These populations are required to be characterized and get registered so that Lakshadweep could also be reflected in Breed map of the country.

Dr P K Rout, Scientific Advisor to Secretary DARE & DG ICAR and Special Guest of the function addressed the delegates and informed about the importance of the characterization and documentation of AnGR in the country. He informed that ICAR is committed to document the indigenous animal germplasm across the country, specially from remote and marginalized regions.

During Technical Session, Dr Anand Natrajan, Head KVK, Kavaratti presented ‘Agriculture landscape of Lakshadweep Islands’ and informed various agricultural and animal husbandry activities undertaken by the KVK. Dr Gafoor, Subject Matter Specialist, KVK presented ‘Animal Genetic Resources in Lakshadweep’. Dr S K Niranjan, Principal Scientist & I/c PME Cell, ICAR-NBAGR made the presentation on ‘Documentation of Animal Genetic Resources at Lakshadweep Islands under the Mission’. Dr Bina Mishra, Principal Scientist, ICAR-NBAGR delivered the lecture on Ecosystem Services by AnGR and urged to document all kinds of services provided by indigenous animals. Farmers also interacted with the scientists and informed about the type of AnGR available in the islands.

Bureau Team surveyed Lakshadweep islands to document indigenous AnGR and explored goat and duck, as potential populations for further characterization. Team also initiated  characterization of native goat population -Lakkadweev also known as Kani Aad in three islands. Ecosystem Services provided by native goat and chicken in the islands were also documented from various stakeholders by the team.