National Seminar on the 'Sustainable Use and Conservation of the Deccani Sheep Breed
(Meat and Wool)'
20-22nd February 2007,
Hyderabad , India

Introduction

Anthra, Jan Jagran, and the Indian Society for Sheep and Goat Production and Utilisation are jointly organizing a 3 day Seminar on "Sustainable Use and Conservation of the Deccani Sheep (Meat and Wool)" from 20th to 22nd February 2007, at NISIET (National Institute of Small Industry Extension and Training), at Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.

The proposed workshop is a follow up to a workshop organized in December 2005, by Jan Jagran on "Remunerative markets for coarse wool". One of the major concerns that emerged especially for South India was the declining genetic reserves of the Deccani breed and the need for evolving and planning for its sustainable use. The Deccani sheep is a key source of livelihood providing income, meat and wool to shepherds across the Deccan Plateau in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. A further decline in the breed could have serious implications on the pastoral community and sheep rearing practices in general.

The workshop brings together scientists from the three states and National Institutions, representatives from the state animal husbandry department, wool boards and groups working with the Deccani breed. The workshop hopes to provide a space to collectively take stock of the Deccani breed in the three states, as also to evolve, develop and forge strategies for its sustainable use in the future.

There will be Technical sessions focusing on different aspects of the Deccani breed, interspersed with a days field visit to Medak district, where Anthra is working with shepherds who depend on the Deccani sheep for their livelihood, and conclude with group deliberations on the way forward.