ISLAMABAD, Aug 3: The Developing Eight (D-8), an organization of eight developing Muslim countries, on Saturday called upon the Regional and International Agriculture and Livestock (RIAL) and other relevant organizations to extend necessary assistance for developing sustainable breeding strategies with a special focus on improving the small farmers’ cattle-breeding system in its member countries.

The organization gave the call in the recommendations formulated at the end of “D-8 Seminar on Conservation of FARM Animal Genetic Resources”, organised by MINFAL in collaboration with the ministry of foreign affairs on Saturday.

D-8 is an economic group of developing Muslim countries, including Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Iran, Pakistan and Turkey.

The organization emphasized the need for early signing and ratifying the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture by its member states to be followed by preparation of the first report on the State of the Worlds Animal Genetic Resources, which might lead the countries to a similar treaty on animal genetic resources.

The seminar called for forming a working group and a functioning network of stakeholder of farm AnGR in the D-8 countries, which could function as a reference network for FAO Global Programme for the Management of AnGR as well.

It called for mobilizing national efforts and resources to support research programmes in the field of management of farm AnGR, including paying adequate attention to conservation of endangered breeds.

Speakers at the seminar underscored the need for exploring international financial support for the conservation of endangered domestic animal breeds in the D-8 member states.

They also stressed the need for examining the possibilities of strengthening research cooperation, including exchange of researchers, AnGR date and farm animal genetic materials, wherever it is relevant among the D-8 countries.

They asked Pakistan as the coordinator of agriculture affairs for the D-8 countries to contact the FAO for the provision of technical and financial assistance to facilitate the member countries to develop strategic plans for the best utilization of their farm AnGR.—APP