DAGRIS (http://dagris.ilri.cgiar.org) Domestic Animal Genetic Resources Information System, a web-based electronic source of information on selected indigenous farm animal genetic resources (breeds/ecotypes of cattle, sheep, goats, chicken, pigs, buffalo and yak) with options to extend it further to cover camels, geese, turkey and ducks is moving to a new front and stature.
17 African countries where the training and management C-DAGRIS is scheduled to start in late 2012 and run for the next 3 years
This web-based electronic source of information is progressing from an expansive information system to a detailed country DAGRIS (C-DAGRIS). In C-DAGRIS the information is customized to the country’s indigenous farm animal genetic resources enabling users of the system to get much more refined information on the various indigenous animals addressing specific needs to a particular country. With this development, countries are now identifying focal institutes, allocating resources and managing the data compilation, entry and the management of the system.
Training of C-DAGRIS started this month, November, where an average of 20 professionals from local universities, research institutes and other organizations from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Vietnam are being trained on management of C-DAGRIS and the modules developed for each country are being handed over. The trainings are done after identifying the focal institutes to house C-DAGRIS.
The above countries are countries where the ILRI Global Environment Fund (GEF)-Asia project titled ‘Development and application of decision-support tools to conserve and sustainably use genetic diversity in indigenous livestock and wild relatives’ that has funded this training together with the CGIAR Research Program on Livestock and Fish has ongoing project activities.
Modules of the four GEF Asia project countries and six ASARECA project countries namely, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda have been developed and ready to be handed over by the DAGRIS team conducting the training that is led by Tadelle Dessie, scientist at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI ). The team is soon moving to an additional 17 African countries with the funding support from Korea for the next three years (starting in late 2012) through the Korea-Africa Food and Agriculture Cooperative Initiative (KAFACI) of Rural Development Administration (RDA).
The objectives of DAGRIS are to compile and organize information on farm animal genetic resources from all available sources, to maintain the integrity and validity of the information, and to disseminate the information in a readily accessible way to all key stakeholders.
For more information about DAGRIS and the training contact Tadelle Dessie (T.DESSIE@CGIAR (dot) ORG)
Related news: Three-day workshop on DAGRIS system for Pakistan organized: http://www.brecorder.com/agriculture-a-allied/183/1258677/
Training Pictures
Pakistan Country Domestic Animal Genetic Resources Information System (C-DAGRIS) training
Vietnam Country Domestic Animal Genetic Resources Information System (C-DAGRIS) training
ILRI BioSciences 