Apart from shifting the control of food production from local communities and farmers to multinational corporations, intellectual property right regimes, patents and bio-piracy of biological resources have jeopardized the life and livelihoods of communities. Agriculture research agendas are increasingly being influenced by and designed to serve the interests of Multinational Corporations and Companies. Policies at both national and international levels are depriving communities of their rights over bio-diversity and indigenous knowledge.

Anthra takes a pro-active role in advocacy and works to access, analyze and disseminate information related to policy and place specific emphasis on the implications of such policies on livestock resources and the production systems of communities. Our attempt is to foreground this vital means of livelihood often ignored within larger debates and campaigns concerning bio diversity, agriculture and food security.

We have been closely following the policy and policy changes in the different sectors of agriculture, forests, environment, tribal rights and water shed development.

We challenge and campaign against policies that deprive communities of their right to life and livelihoods.

Some critical issues which we are engaged with:

• Vision 2020 Agriculture and Livestock Policy Andhra Pradesh (Critique and Prajateerupu)
• Grazing Policy proposed by Forest Department in Andhra Pradesh (We were successfully able to force the government to withdraw the draft policy). Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forests, Science and Technology agreed to support a Comprehensive Study on Grazing and Livelihoods in Andhra Pradesh.
• Privatization of Government Veterinary Services in India
• Campaign for conserving local breeds and rights of Pastoralists
• Introduction of Genetically Modified Crops