World Camel Day: The constant struggle to save the Camel herding tradition

The herder’s optimism emanates from the truth that camel milk is being lauded as a nutritious and more healthy different to typical dairy milk.

By Hitesh Rathi,

All through historical past, animals have accompanied troops into fight as modes of transport, companion, and protectors. They carried meals, ammunition, and medical provides to troopers on the entrance. Of all of the animals like horses, mules, camels are considered one of them.

Their means to go with out water and carry heavy hundreds made them a great mode of transport, particularly within the desert and dry lands. Fondly often known as the ‘Ship of the Desert, they’re vital livestock in arid areas. World Camel Day can also be celebrated yearly on June 22, recognizing how camels are vital to the livelihoods in lots of elements of the world.

It’s no secret that a number of communities have had a historical past of interdependence with camels. Considered one of them is the camel-herding neighborhood of Rajasthan, the Raikas. It’s popularly believed that these camel herders survived a year-long famine solely by consuming camel milk. So then, the synergistic relationship between this tribe and the mighty camel comes as no shock.

Altering Instances

For years, the Raika neighborhood, the normal camel keepers of Rajasthan, was strictly in opposition to promoting both camel’s meat or milk. They believed that camel milk, with miraculous powers and excessive dietary worth, was by no means to be offered. It may solely be given without cost to whoever wants it. The identical goes with the Maldharis of Gujarat, who contemplate camel rearing as an obligation assigned to them by God and its milk a present.

Nonetheless, of late, the cameleers of Rajasthan have began promoting camel milk. However why? The fact, sadly, is disheartening.

Plummeting Camel Inhabitants

This alteration has stemmed from the truth that Rajasthan’s camel inhabitants is plunging. The entire camel inhabitants within the nation decreased by 37.1% in comparison with the earlier census in 2012, as per the twentieth Livestock Census in 2019. From 4 lakh camels in 2012, the general inhabitants in India declined to 2.5 lakh in 2019. Little question, the plummeting camel inhabitants has turn into one of many main considerations for camel breeders as these animals present them with sustenance, wealth, and companionship.

The Decline

To save lots of the numbers from falling additional, Rajasthan, which is house to the utmost camel inhabitants within the nation, declared it the state animal in 2014. The state additionally banned its sale or motion outdoors the area because of considerations that it was being slaughtered for meat. However sadly, the efforts to avoid wasting the camel inhabitants from declining additional dented the market.

As an example, there was a fall in camel gross sales in India’s well-known annual Pushkar truthful. At current, there are hardly any takers on the camel buying and selling truthful, leaving these herders in a state of despair.

Furthermore, camel breeding has turn into costly, making it robust for the herders to supply high quality care for his or her animals. Moreover, as increasingly more roads are being constructed, there’s a shortage of grazing pastures for camels to graze.

All in all, the image is sort of gloomy for the camels and their loyal breeders. And now, there’s a fixed battle to avoid wasting these elegant ships of the desert and their herding custom.

A Drop of Hope

Going in opposition to their tradition, the Raikas are actually left with no choice however to make use of camels for milking. And such use could be the solely technique to protect these animals who’re on the sting of extinction.

The herder’s optimism emanates from the truth that camel milk is being lauded as a nutritious and more healthy different to typical dairy milk. In accordance with the Camel Dairy Market, the worldwide camel dairy market is projected to develop at a compound annual development charge of 8.01% throughout 2019-2024. Due to this fact, there’s a ray of hope that the demand for camel milk is more likely to develop additional within the coming years.

Acknowledged as a superfood, persons are step by step coming round to the thought of consuming camel milk. A number of research on camel milk have found its optimistic influence on autism, liver illness, diabetes, jaundice, and even most cancers. As in comparison with cow’s milk, camel milk is excessive in vitamin C, iron, and calcium, which helps in boosting the immune system. It is usually low in lactose, permitting the milk to be digested by individuals with a dairy intolerance.

Pushed by these nutrient-rich options, camel milk and dairy merchandise are slowly gaining recognition internationally. And by creating extra consciousness about their advantages, this dairy phase will flourish within the nation.

Including additional hope, a number of startups are additionally organising camel milk dairies in states comparable to Rajasthan and Gujarat. Other than milk, manufacturers are additionally manufacturing and promoting camel milk-based merchandise like flavored milk powders, ghee, ice cream, and lots of extra.

In a nutshell, they’re serving to camel herders to earn an honest sum of money. Additional, growing infrastructure, particularly for bulk milk coolers in distant areas, will increase the manufacturing of camel milk. With this development and relevance for camels already in tempo, herders are actually trying ahead to a vivid future for his or her animals in addition to a gentle earnings for his or her households.

(The writer is Founding father of Aadvik Meals. Views expressed are private and don’t replicate the official place or coverage of the Monetary Specific On-line.)