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We are creators of breeds and custodians of their animal genetic resources for food and
agriculture;
The Raika and the sustainable use of traditional breeds are highly dependent on the
conservation of our ecosystem; and
Our traditional breeds represent collective property, products of indigenous knowledge and our
cultural expression.
B. Rights
We have the right to:
• Make breeding decisions and breed the breeds they maintain.
• Participate in policy formulation and implementation processes on animal genetic resources for
food and agriculture.
• Receive appropriate training and capacity building and equal access to relevant services
enabling and supporting us to raise livestock and to better process and market our products.
• Participate in the identification of research needs and research design with respect to our
genetic resources, as is mandated by the principle of Prior Informed Consent.
• Effectively access information on issues related to our local breeds and livestock diversity.
We call on the Secretariat of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, specifically under Article 8(j) of
the Convention, to recognize our contribution to the conservation and sustainable use of biological
diversity in the Rajasthan’s forest ecosystem. We also call on the UN Food and Agriculture Organization
to acknowledge the importance of our animal genetic resources and to recognize livestock keepers’
rights.
OUR CONTACT DETAILS
The Raika Samaj Panchayat
c/o Lokhit Pashu-Palak Sansthan, Butibagh, Rajpura, Via Sadri 306702, Distt. Pali, India
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