Research

Anthra's community-led action research projects provide an organic link to the diverse livestock-rearing and farming communities we work with and help these communities:

• articulate problems which need to be addressed
• document and develop different strategies and approaches that strengthen their livestock-rearing practices
• Safeguard and sustain livelihoods systems based on the locally available resources and bio diversity.

Our research feeds into our documentation, publications, training programmes and advocacy work. On principle and as a policy, Anthra ensures that its research does not compromise the rights of communities to their livelihoods, knowledge systems and biodiversity. We do not patent the positive results of any research and firmly believe that such results should be disseminated and used by as large a number of farmers, pastoralists and livestock owners as possible.

Important projects implemented to date include:

• Indigenous Knowledge in Animal Health (IKAH project)
• Documentation of traditional feeds and fodders (Fodder Project)
• In-situ conservation of the Aseel Poultry Breed by adivasi communities of East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh
• Validation of herbal medicines by healers and health workers and applications for their wider use and availability by local communities
• Local livestock diversity; Dangi cattle, Deccani sheep, Osmanabadi and Kanchu meka goat

Current Projects

Bt Cotton and Its Effects on Livestock

Cotton is not normally a part of an animals diet. However, in India, cotton seed cake is fed to dairy animals as part of the concentrate ration as it enhances the fat % of milk. Likewise, in large parts of the Deccan plateau where cotton is extensively grown, sheep are grazed on cotton fields after the cotton bolls are harvested. Recently though, there have been disturbing reports about dairy animals, especially buffalos falling sick after consuming cotton seed cake and sheep falling sick after grazing on cotton fields. Livestock owners see a strong correlation between the introduction of Bt. cotton and their animals falling sick.

ANTHRA is conducting research with livestock owners to carefully study the effects of feeding their animals Bt. Cotton products.

Participatory Epidemiology Approaches to Prevent and Control Livestock Diseases

ANTHRA works with livestock owners using different participatory epidemiology approaches and techniques along with conventional veterinary investigation and epidemiological tools to map diseases occurrence in livestock owned by pastoral, tribal and peasant communities.

We are developing and testing pilot community-based systems for monitoring livestock health, disease surveillance and record keeping which we hope will then feed into a larger system of diseases surveillance and control.

We are also developing village based referral systems where livestock owners refer cases to trained animal health workers who in turn report the disease to veterinarians working with ANTHRA as well as the state run animal husbandry Department. Our newly launched SMS service using mobile phones helps inform both the community and veterinarians about disease occurrence , control steps to be taken etc.

Simultaneously we are testing different approaches and alternatives herbal remedies, improved management practices for vector control and homeopathy for the prevention and treatment of diseases like Blue Tongue which currently do not have vaccines available in India.

Policy Research

Apart from shifting the control of food production from local communities and farmers to multinational corporations, IPR (Intellectual property rights) regimes, patents and the 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.

At ANTHRA we have been closely following the policies and policy changes in the different sectors of agriculture, forests, environment, tribal rights and water shed development with the objective of analyzing the implications of such policies on livestock resources and different production systems. Our attempt is to bring to the foreground this vital means of livelihood often ignored within larger debates and campaigns concerning bio diversity, agriculture and food security. We question and campaign against policies that deprive communities of their right to life and livelihoods.

Some critical issues which we have been engaged with:

• Vision 2020 Agriculture and Livestock Policy Andhra Pradesh
• Grazing Policy Proposed by Forest Department in Andhra Pradesh
• Privatization of Government Veterinary Services in India
• Watersheds and Livestock Rearing

Current Researches

• Agricultural Policy – Genetically Modified Crops
• Forest Dwellers Act. Especially to negotiate space for grazing rights of traditional livestock owners and herders
• SEZ’s and their effect on agriculturists and livestock owners
• Biological diversity especially related to livestock breeds (AnGr – Animal Genetic resources), fodders, seeds and medicinal plants
• Bio fuels; their impact on grazing lands and livelihoods of marginal livestock owners