Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor, December 1998

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Networks, international organizations

International Livestock Research Institute
The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) is the first institute to take on the full complex of the inter-related researchable problems related to the constraints in animal health and animal production. The major constraints to improving livestock productivity in the tropics and subtropics, where production efficiency is only one-quarter that in developed regions, include a devastating animal disease burden, a near-ubiquitous shortage of good-quality livestock feeds, rapidly diminishing forage and animal biodiversity, poor access to markets, and unresponsive policy environments. ILRI employs 110 internationally recruited scientific and administrative staff. About 800 supervisory and support staff are recruited from Kenya and Ethiopia, ILRI's co-hosting countries, in about equal numbers. Interdisciplinary teams of scientists are also based in Nigeria (IITA headquarters); Niger (ICRISAT's Sahelian Centre); Burkina Faso (CIRDES Centre); India (ICRISAT headquarters); Colombia (CIAT headquarters); Peru (CIP headquarters) and the Philippines (IRRI headquarters). ILRI is funded by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), a consortium of 57 donor countries, foundations and international and regional organizations led by four co-sponsors: the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organizations of the UN and the UN Environment Programme.
ILRI publishes a newsletter, Livestock Research for Development. ILRI conducts projects within three programmes: biosciences; sustainable production systems; and a programme to strengthen partnerships with the national agricultural research systems (NARS) of developing countries. Altogether there are 20 projects, two of which are highlighted here.

Characterization, conservation and use of animal genetic resources. Under low levels of input in the tropics, indigenous adapted livestock are usually more productive than exotic breeds. The adapted livestock are also more readily available to resource-poor farmers, and they can be productive without high disease-control inputs. Yet, lack of information about the genetic resources present in the indigenous farm animals in developing countries has led to their underutilization, replacement and dilution through cross-breeding. The overall objectives of this project are to characterize indigenous livestock breeds, to estimate the extent and rate of loss of diversity, to encourage their use, and to make indigenous breeds available for research and animal improvement programmes. To date, the project has resulted in a map of bovine genome; also, the genetic relationships of 31 indigenous African cattle breeds have been established for purposes of conservation and utilization. In 1999, ILRI will publish the results of this research and also the research on African sheep breeds, which is in progress. In 2000, the methodology for characterizing on-farm phenotypes will be available for use by NARS in sub-Saharan Africa. And in 2001, the Domestic Animal Genetic Resources Information Database for Sub-Saharan Africa will be available for use.
Characterization and conservation of forage genetic resources. The poor quality of existing feeds and fluctuating feed supply are major constraints for increasing livestock productivity in tropical areas. ILRI is working to remove these constraints by collecting, conserving and characterizing forage germplasm and by evaluating forages for use as livestock feeds. ILRI holds the germplasm collections in trust and makes them freely available, particularly to NARS of developing countries. The better animal nutrition expected to result from this five-year project will increase livestock productivity and thus improve the diets and increase the incomes of people in rural areas. Conservation of biodiversity will ensure that this germplasm remains available for the benefit of future generations and to meet future demands. Incorporation of forages in sustainable farming systems will have positive environmental effects.
For more information, please contact: Dr Michael Smalley, director of SCNARS, ILRI, P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Tel.: +251-1-613-215. Fax: +251-1-611 892.

Rainforests for health exhibit
In the March 1998 issue of the Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor, we reported on the travelling exhibit produced by the Rainforest Medical Foundation. The exhibit is called 'Rainforests for health: the health consequences of rainforest degradation'. (See IK&DM 6(1))
The exhibit has been touring through three southern states of India: Karnataka, Kerala and Tamilnadu. The tour is coordinated by the Foundation for Revitalization of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT) in Bangalore. The Foundation had added to the exhibit some material designed to educate the public about the tremendous depth of India's traditional knowledge of medicinal plants and about the grave threat to their survival in nature.
The exhibit was on show in Coimbatore City in June 1998. The Monitor asked Mr A.S. Sankaranarayan to visit it and write a report. Mr Sankaranarayan works with the Native Medicare Charitable Trust in Coimbatore, a grassroots organization involved in propagating traditional remedies used by the various tribal communities in the western Ghats. He submitted the following report.
Some 50-60 colourful, instructive posters in English were well displayed. The posters illustrated the threats posed to herbs which are used for health purposes, described their use, and offered tips for conserving the herbs. The main attraction of the exhibit, however, were the 50 or more live plants, which were carefully labelled. Women showed a particular interest in the plants. At a counter, various organizations from Kerala and Tamilnadu had information on display. Books and a few magazine issues were for sale, as were several medicines.
The exhibit attracted nearly 3500 visitors. Asked for their opinions, many of the visitors said they had found it a unique event. Interestingly, many people were anxious to plant 'living pharmacies' in their home gardens. It would have been good if live plants and seeds could have been purchased at the exhibit for reasonable prices. The exhibit contained a junior section but gave no concrete suggestions on how to support conservation.
For more information, please contact: Mr Hariramurthi, Communication FRLHT, 50, MSH Layout, 2nd Stage, 3rd Main Anand Nagar, Bangalore 560 - 0024, India. Tel.: +91-80-333 6906. Fax: +91-80-333 4167. E-mail: root@frlht.ernet.in http://ece.iisc.ernet.in/ernetmembers/frlht.html

VETAID
'Healthy animals - healthy people' is the motto of VETAID. This small, specialized charity was established in 1989. It 'works with local organizations in underpriviliged countries to prevent suffering and hunger.' By actively promoting animal health and welfare and improved animal husbandry, it aims to enhance the environment in which animals live and thus to improve the lives of people who depend upon livestock for their survival. VETAID's work ranges from feasibility studies to the design of pastoral development programmes; and from the establishment of small-scale credit schemes to para-vet training programmes.
VETAID has livestock projects in Mozambique (since 1990), South Sudan (since 1995), Somaliland (since 1995) and Tanzania. In 1997 a new project was launched in the Arusha region of Tanzania. This Ethnoveterinary development project sets out to document and assess ethnoveterinary knowledge in the area. A full report will include information on the materials and plants used to prepare various medicines. The long-term objective of the project is to increase Tanzania's own capacity for developing and maintaining its own ethnoveterinary knowledge resources.
VETAID publishes a newsletter that it sends to its supporters. It has also published a Guide to restocking with animals. This was written following the drought of 1991-92 in Eastern and Southern Africa. The guide was meant to serve two purposes: to help fieldworkers decide whether or not a given situation called for restocking, and to suggest to African government agencies and international development organizations how a restocking programme could best meet the population's needs. Two thousand copies have been printed for distribution.
For more information and to obtain the Guide to restocking and other VETAID reports, contact: VETAID, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, EH26 OPZ Scotland. Tel.: +44-131-445 6241. Fax: +44-131-445 6242. E-mail: vetaiduk@gn.apc.org http://www.gn.apc.org/vetaid

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