International Treaty on Animal Genetic Resources:

1
International Treaty on Animal Genetic Resources

• The Perspective of Pastoralists

• LIFE
• Local Livestock For Empowerment of Rural People

2
International Treaty on Animal Genetic Resources

• Recently concluded
• International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources
  for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA)
•  
• Purpose to ensure open and transparent access to
  the germplasm of major food and fodder crops

3
International Treaty on Animal Genetic Resources

• Pastoralists
• People depending on livestock as main source of
  their livelihood, while not owning land and
  depending on common property resources
• Pastoralism is predominant livelihood strategy in
  areas unsuitable for crop cultivation (deserts,
  steppes, high altitude zones, tundra)
• Examples Maasai, Tuareg, Bedouin, Saami
•  

4
International Treaty on Animal Genetic Resources

• IK of Pastoralists about Animal Breeding
•  
• Breeding mechanisms leading to consolidated
  gene-pool no sale of female animals, shared male
  breeding animals, loan-system within community.
•  
• Breeding strategies Pedigree keeping, selection
  criteria, offspring testing, culling/castration
  of undesired animals, prevention of inbreeding.

5
International Treaty on Animal Genetic Resources

• Rajasthan
• famous for its indigenous breeds
• Cattle Tharparkar, Kankrej, Gir, Rathi
• 8 sheep breeds
• Goat breeds Sirohi and Marwari
• Several camel breeds
• Mostly developed by Raika pastoralists

6
International Treaty on Animal Genetic Resources

• Activities of Department of Animal Husbandry
• Breed improvement by A.I. (Holstein, Jersey)
  since 1970s, currently 2400 A.I. Points
• Cross-breeding of sheep with Rambouillet and
  Merino

7
International Treaty on Animal Genetic Resources

• Results after 30 years
• Cross-bred cows provide less than 1 of the
  states milk output
• No population figures available for indigenous
  breeds
• Breeding policy changed, but quota for A.I. still
  exists

8
International Treaty on Animal Genetic Resources

• ERA OF GENES
• Feasibility of genetic engineering is opening
  up new vistas
• Red Maasai sheep worm resistance
• Booroola gene for prolificacy in sheep- patent
  has been filed by NZ company
• Fayoumi chicken

9
International Treaty on Animal Genetic Resources

• SUMMARY
• Because pastoralists occupy remote and harsh
  areas and adhere to a different production
  paradigm, they act as guardians of livestock
  genetic diversity
•  
• Their breeds are likely to harbour many valuable
  genes of interest for maintaining vitality of
  high performance breeds in the future.

10
International Treaty on Animal Genetic Resources

• Because of shrinking grazing resources and
  misguided development policies, many pastoralists
  are at the brink of destitution.
•  
• If they are forced to give up their way of life,
  their breeds will also perish.

11
International Treaty on Animal Genetic Resources

• CONCLUSION
• Many unique AnGR can be saved, IF
•  Pastoralists are given appropriate policy
  support (especially secure grazing areas).
•  
• Pastoralists have the opportunity to reap
  benefits (benefit-sharing) from the genetic
  material they have husbanded.

12
International Treaty on Animal Genetic Resources

• PURPOSE  of an ITAnGRFA
• To acknowledge that a large proportion of genetic
  diversity and valuable breeds with important
  genetic traits are found in countries with harsh
  environments and that have been disadvantaged
•  
• To make explicit and put on record the
  significant role of pastoralists and other
  societies embodying traditional lifestyles as
  custodians of livestock genetic diversity.

13
International Treaty on Animal Genetic Resources

• To acknowledge the linkage between the
  conservation of locally adapted indigenous breeds
  and secure livelihoods of their keepers.
  Providing pastoralists with secure grazing rights
  and enabling policy frameworks will do more for
  the conservation of livestock genetic diversity
  than any breed conservation project.
• Mechanisms for benefit-sharing must be worked
  out, so that pastoralists and others receive a
  fair and just compensation for the genetic assets
  that they have developed.

14
International Treaty on Animal Genetic Resources

• To confirm the need and the right for
  decentralized breeding decisions. The control
  over breeding decisions must remain in the hand
  of individual livestock keepers, or their
  associations. The more the control over breeding
  decisions is taken away from individual farmers
  or livestock keepers and moves into the hands of
  large corporations, the more narrow our genetic
  base is going to become.