National Biodiversity Authority, India is currently implementing the first National Project on Access and Benefit Sharing under the UNEP – GEF – MoEFCC - ABS Project on "Strengthening the Implementation of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and Rules, 2004, with focus on its Access and Benefit Sharing Provisions".
This project is being implemented in the 12 states of India viz., Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Karnataka, Goa, Orissa, Tripura, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Delhi and Telangana by NBA in collaboration with the 12 State Biodiversity Boards, UNEP-Division of Environmental Law and Conventions (DELC), United Nations University - Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The link between agriculture and biodiversity has changed over time. Evidence indicates that certain changes can decrease sustainability and productivity of the systems. Loss of diversity also reduces the availability of resources for future. The natural populations of many species of livestock breeds and fish genetic resources are increasingly at risk. Necessary conservation and enhancement initiatives are, therefore, needed in such diversity rich areas to prioritize species for conservation, monitor key species status, improving the use of these valuable resources in supporting production systems and ensuring that communities in these areas obtain full benefits from the use of these resources.
In this project, ponds will be constructed for water harvesting in the selected villages of Mahaboobnagar which will be essentially used for irrigation. Also, beneficiary will be earning livelihood by fish culture in integration with Horticulture at the trenches developed for water harvesting. Through this innovative integration water, fish, plants & animals will be conserved.
In the present scenario, fish farmers are only culturing Indian major Carps thus slowly with the time span other fishes of the area are getting extinct. Through this project the farmers will be enlightened on importance of fish biodiversity. They will be trained on fish farming, post harvest products of fisheries & ornamental fish culture. Also, propagation of indigenous species such as Calbasu and magur (Labeo calbasu, minor carps, Clarias batrachus) will be accomplished. To earn maximum profit with the biodiversity integrated aquaculture (fish and prawn) with poultry & paddy will be also introduced. The farmers will be trained on fish farming, post harvest products of fisheries & ornamental fish culture.
Further, when on-farm conservation research has identified genetically important populations of animal breeds and fish genetic resources and farming systems that are priorities for conservation, it may be appropriate to assess different options for "adding value" to these populations, or in other words increasing the benefits that farmers get from maintaining animal breeds and managing fish in a given social, economic and ecological context. By understanding their importance in farming systems, farmers have to continue to harvest water, maintain local crops, livestock breeds and aquatic diversity resulting in on-farm conservation and enhanced livelihood security on sustainable basis. An important component of on-farm research will, therefore, be to investigate which strategies can be used to add value to local diversity and support farming systems associated with high genetic diversity. The present project proposal has therefore integrated fish, animal & plant to restore the biodiversity as well as to generate livelihood for the beneficiaries.
Dr. Shilpi Sharma
Principal Investigator
Harmonizing biodiversity conservation and agricultural intensification through integration of plant, animal and fish genetic resources for livelihood security in fragile ecosystems"
The Project was implemented in Adilabad district under Sustainable Rural Livelihood Security (component-3) of NAIP. The total budget for the project was Rs.99.02 lakh for four years. This project was implemented in three district of India, namely Chamba (Himachal Pradesh), Udaipur (Rajasthan) and Adilabad (Telangana). In which four mandals (Indervelly, Khanapur, Kerameri and Bheemini) are selected for the above project. In the project two Senior Research Fellow (SRF) namely Dr. Shilpi Sharma and Mr. G. Sailu were appointed.
Firstly, the project started with the brainstorming session and exhibition of land races at Adilabad, followed by Baseline Survey of the four selected mandals (Kerameri, Khanapur, Bheemini, & Indervelly). On the basis of the survey, thousand beneficiaries were selected from the four selected Mandals.
A vermicompost plant has been setup at Pembi, Khanapur Mandal, under Biodiversity Management Committee (BMCs) made at Pembi Khanapur Mandal. For the distribution of Superior Germplasm Ongol bull were purchased and provided to BMC of Pembi. To minimize mortality and morbidity loss, animal health care and vaccination camp was conducted in the month of November and February. Approx 5000 animals were benefited. Mineral mix was also provided to the beneficiaries.
