Promoting conservation and improvement of Banni breed as a distinct breed of the country.
Banni, the famous natural grassland covering around 4600 sq. k.m., is one of the most beautiful landscape with ecological diversity, both flora and fauna. Muslim pastoral community called they, Maldhari, are living in this region with their animals, mainly Banni buffalo and Kankrej cow. Geologically, Banni region had emerged out of sea due to tectonic activities some thousand years ago. Soils deposited in this area from the rivers and rivulets, which helped in pushing sub-surface salinity downward as well as flushing out surface salinity towards sea and Greater Rann of Kutch.
Over the years Maldharies (traditional breeder) have played important role in conservation and improvement of Banni Buffalo. Maldharis of Banni came together to form "Banni Pashu Uchharak Maldhari Sangathan" (Banni Breeders' Association) with membership of more than 970 animal breeders from this region with the objective of recognizing their animal as distinct buffalo breed of the country as well as conservation and improvement of this germplasm scientifically supported by their traditional wisdom which would be complementary to the Banni Grassland Ecosystem.
The main objectives of the association are conservation and improvement of Banni breed, recognition of Banni breed as distinct breed of the country, conservation of grassland on which animals are grazed, establish organized milk market for the region and create backward integrations like availability of water, animal feeds, value addition and systematic animal marketing. In order to recognize Banni buffalo, Breeders' Association initiated process of characterization of Banni breed and developing breed descriptor with the support of NGO and Agricultural University. They also willing to participate in efforts on conservation of the Banni breed and in fact, members of Breeders' Association are already participating in in-situ breed conservation programme being jointly implemented by SDAU and Sahjeevan.