Anthra, an organization of women veterinary scientists working in the field of livestock production and development, has been involved since 1996 in a research project to document and validate local ethnoveterinary and animal management practices carried out by livestock-rearing communities in different parts of the states of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra in India. Communal knowledge and innovation are an integral part of the day-to-day healing and management practices of farmers in all areas and over 80% of farmers continue to use these because they are easily and quickly available, especially in remote villages. However, this knowledge is today rapidly being lost. Farmers, both men and women, have expressed a keen desire to increase their own knowledge of these systems. This paper outlines the validation framework evolved by Anthra, wherein farmers using these medicines are actively participating in an evaluation process. Major findings are that local practices are effective, participating farmers use them confidently and other farmers are keen to use and increase their knowledge of them.

Indigenous women of East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, India are unique in that they have over generations protected and bred the world-famous Aseel poultry and other local varieties. Birds managed under backyard systems contribute crucially to women's livelihood, and are of critical cultural importance in the lives of indigenous communities. A combination of factors has resulted in the fast decline of Aseel poultry populations in their traditional locations in the early 1990s. In the past decade, women have responded through multiple collective actions: to re-establish ecological and diverse cropping, which have provided vital by-products for feed for the poultry; apply modern and indigenous health care and management practices to prevent and control diseases; and innovate with traditional systems of asset building. All of these have helped to restore and sustain the breed, maintain livelihoods, and re-establish biological and cultural diversity.the area such as Nati kodi, Shankar jati kodi, Geesa kodi, Medajari kodi, Rencha kodi or Agees kodi, Denki kodi, Mattedu kodi and Juttu kodi. Among these, it is the Aseel that has historically been the breed of choice, valued for its tasty meat, cockfighting abilities, agility and ability to escape predators that frequent the forest regions.The Aseel has a short, broad breast, straight back and a close set strong tail root. The outstanding feature of this breed is the thick and long neck, long and slender face (without feathers), short beak, short, small comb, ear lobes and the absence of wattles. The legs are long, strong and straight and the bird has an upright and majestic gait. The plumage colouring is brilliant, as detailed by Girijana Deepika et al. (2002) and the Aseel cock comes in many colours: typically Dega (red plumage), Reza (golden and red spotted plumage), Massara (blue black), Poola Massara (spotted), Savala (white and black spots), Kaki (pure black), Petta maru (hen-like colouring), and Settuva (white). The preferred colours are Dega, Reza and Massara. The average weight of a 2-year-old full sized adult male ranges between 5-8 kg. The average weight of a hen is 3-4 kg.The Aseel have been traditionally bred for meat quality. With 36-60 eggs laid per year, it is not a prolific layer. The hen matures and begins to lay eggs at between 5-6 months of age, and lays 3-4 clutches per year, with each clutch having 10-12 eggs. It is evident that women are primarily interested in producing live birds, and not eggs, as indicated by Ramdas and Ghotge (1998). In these studies it was found that 95% -100% of total annual eggs laid by a bird are kept for hatching. There is higher consumption of eggs during summer (May), as high ambient temperatures leads to higher deterioration of eggs. Of the live birds that hatch and survive, between 60-70% are sold, 15-20% are consumed at home and the remaining 10-15% are kept as breeding stock to increase the flock.

This paper discusses women's role, resource access control and decision-making power in the context of rapid changes in rural livelihoods, local knowledge systems and NRM. Participatory research was carried out in collaboration with NGOs and community-based organisations in six distinct agro-ecological regions of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, with a focus on eco nomically and socially marginalised communities. The research revealed that state policies have resulted in dramatic changes from food to commercial crops. This has threatened food and fodder security, the biodiversity of crops, natural flora, local livestock and poultry breeds, and led to unsustainable extraction of ground water and high levels of indebtedness. Women have borne the brunt. Women who formerly played key decision-making roles have been marginalised, their knowledge and expertise made valueless. Traditionally also women have been denied access to certain kinds of knowledge that constrain their livelihoods. Participatory research has empow ered women to take the lead in movements to challenge mainstream paradigms of sustainable development.

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