Networking

Through its work Anthra reaches out to a diverse set of individuals, communities and organizations. Adivasis, pastoralalists, farmers, agricultural labourers, scientists and academics in research institutions, the government, NGOs, donor groups and people’s organizations at the national and international levels.

Some of the networks we work with are:

Local (State Level)

Traditional healers and animal health workers network

This informal network is of healers who contributed to Anthra’s research efforts and animal health workers trained by Anthra and who also have apprenticed with healers.

Ecological Farmers Network

This group works on Food Sovereignty recognizing the holistic integrity of agriculture and livestock, farmers control over their seeds and farming and fighting the Corporate control of Agriculture. This network is spread across 10 districts of Andhra Pradesh, and 8 districts in Maharashtra. Initiated in 2007.

Pastoralist Networks

These were initiated by Anthra in Chittoor and Medak districts of Andhra Pradesh and Satara, Solapur and Kolhapur districts of Maharashtra since 2004. Over 1500 shepherds are members and the membership is increasing. Each group in its village is a small group which has set up its own criteria for membership,a membership fee, aims and objectives etc. These groups work for the collective livelihood rights of pastoralists including access to grazing resources, forests, CPRs, fodder, water, health, marketing, education, citizenship in their local area.

Dalit Sanghams Network

A fledgeling initiative, where Dalit activists trained by Anthra, are organizing Dalit women and men in Medak and Chittoor districts around agriculture, livestock, food sovereignity issues. Anthra is actively supporting these initiatives since 2006.

Adivasi Women's Gottis Network

Anthra along with several other organizations, supports the initiatives of Adivasi women across 7 districts in Andhra Pradesh, who are organizing around their food sovereignty and livelihood concerns Involvement since 1996.

Grazing and Fodder Forum

Grazing and fodder forum was initiated by Anthra and emerged in 2001 at the time when there was raging debates on around an extremely anti-people grazing policy brought out by the Forest department. The collective efforts of the forum were successful in a withdrawal of the policy, as also pushing the government to constitute a committee with members from AHD, Forest Department and Anthra/Grazing Forum to look into the issue and make recommendations.

Regional

Support Deccani Network

This is a Network of Organizations working with Pastoralists of the Deccan in AP, Karnataka and Maharastra. Initially this group started with groups with a common concern- that of working with the complex issues that confront pastoralists. The group members share experiences, conduct joint research and development initiatives on issues that concern the conservation of local breeds of sheep and goat, migration, health, fodder, breeds, water, marketing of wool etc. The network currently consists of NGOs such as Anthra, Jana Jagran, Shramik Abbhiruddhi , Mata Balak Utkarsha Prathishthan (MBUP), Pastoralist groups (membership organizations) of AP, Maharashtra, Northern Karnataka, independent scientists and researchers.

Members of the network along with the Indian Society for Sheep and Goat Production and Utilisation (ISSGPU), organised a major National level Seminar on “Sustainable Use and Conservation of the Deccani Sheep Breed, in 2007, which brought together researchers, government officials, pastoralists and practitioners to deliberate on the future of the Deccani breed.

The network of groups are conducting joint research on the Deccani breed of sheep, wool, as also on Indigenous Knowledge pertaining to the pastoralists in the Deccan. They are regulary advised by scientists from the Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute (CSWRI), Avikanagar and National Bureau of Animal Genetic Research (NBAGR), Karnal.

South Against Genetic Engineering

Anthra is member and participated in its inception. The network plays a proactive role on issues concerning Genetic Engeneering, and for instance on issues like Livestock mortality after grazing on BT cotton in Andhra Pradesh.

National

Livestock and Dry Land Agriculture

Anthra has initiated an informal network of NGO’s / CBOs/ interested individuals/scientists for joint learning and perspective building on Livestock production and Dry land agriculture. The networking efforts reaches out to over 80 NGOs and Community Organisations across India in the states of Andhra Pradesh,Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu. The network provides space for organizations to share and learn from farmers, pastoralists, adivasis and scientists/researchers as also their own practice.

Indian Association of Women's Studies

Anthra is a Life Member of the Indian Association of Womens studies: We actively participate in its activities and share our work and experience on women,livestock and livelihood issues with a wide network of women scientists, academics, researchers, activists and grassroot organizations. The Association organizes regional level meetings each year, as also meets once every two years at the National level. Anthra has been able to carry the debate to an entirely different forum.

Jivika

Anthra is an active and regular member of this livelihoods network, which operates as an e-network.

International

Endogenous Livestock Development network (ELD)

An international network that brings together organizations and concerned individuals who work with the objective of promoting and sustaining People Centered livestock development and the philosophy of development from within with an overall aim of improving peoples livelihoods through strengthening livestock keepers own initiatives. It was founded in 2003, and till 2006 had a loose structure.

Anthra is a member of the international core group that meets regularly, and coordinates networking activities, exchanges information, etc. The group consists of members from Africa, Asia, South America, Europe, Australia and North America. It works to reorient current global development approaches to be in tune with peoples needs. The network has an e-mailing list with over 300 members. ELD has a website as also a newletter.

ELD and its members, have participated in significant International Conferences such as the “Tropentag, Conference on International Agricultural Research for Development. Germany 2005”, the First International Technical Conference on Animal Genetic Resources, Interlaaken, 2007, to name a few. Planet Diversity and COP on Biological Diversity, Bonn, 2008.

LIFE Network

Animal Genetic diversity and Livestock Keepers rights, a network initiated in 2003, where Anthra is a founding member.