“Mobilization Kachchhi Camel Breeders towards Organizing Structure in Kachchh District”

Submitted bySubmitted to

SahjeevanBhuj-Kutch

Department of Animal HusbandryGoG

Gandhinagar (Gujarat)

Camel Project

Quarterly report (January to March-2011)

INDEX

Mobilizing Camel Breeders for their association

Recent efforts ongoing under Camel project

Taluka and Village level Camel Breeder Meetings

Rajasthan Exposure of Camel Breeders

Shearing training cum competition event for Camel breeders

District level Camel Seminar

Camel Cart Reflector Programme

Socioeconomic conditions of camel breeders in Kachchh

Camel Health Services

Table 1. List of Treatment Camps under the project

Formation of Self Help Group (SHG) for woman empowerment

Future plan

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Mobilizing Camel Breeders for their association

Taluka and Village level Camel Breeder Meetings

Meetings with Camel Breeders for membership registration were conducted at Jadva in Lakhpat taluka, Kunjisar and Chobari in Bhachau taluka, Moti charopadi in Abadasa, Vadvabhopa in Nakhatrana taluka, Sanosara in Bhuj taluka and Vrajavani in Rapar taluka of Kachchh district to organize members of Kachchh Unt Uchherak Maldhari Sangathan for formation of Breeders' Association at district level. Total 225 camel breeders (Including both male and female) are registered and collected their membership fee during these meeting. Bank account of the association has been opened and membership fees have been deposited. Camel breeders are organizing themselves with great enthusiasm to work on their issues and solving them. Woman participation has also been observed in village level meetings.

Rajasthan Exposure of Camel Breeders

Recently, 13 camel breeders from 7 talukas of Kachchh, along with representatives of Sahjeevan have gone to Rajasthan for exposure cum training. On the first day, Kachchhi camel breeders visited the Lokhit Pashu-Palak Sansthan (LPPS) camel milk ice-cream unit. There, the breeders learned processes in the production of ice-cream. They were highly excited after knowing possibilities of value addition of Camel milk and eager to establish a similar venture in Kachchh. Rabrakhiya Jat expressed that Camel breeders of Kachchh should work very hard in order to realize full potential of Camel utility.

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On the second day, experience sharing meeting was organized in which, Breeders Association of Jaisalmer explained their journey to the breeders of Kachchh. They also detailed out the status of market linkages for camel milk and wool products. The visiting breeders reported their experiences with Kachchhi and Khariya Camel Breeds, and outlined for their critical day-to-day issues they face from limited access to traditional grazing lands and providing health care to the lack of existing market linkages. Mr. Bhikhabhai shared his experiences with camel rearing and the grazing problems in Kachchh. He also said that a solving these problems was been key motivation for breeders in Kachchh to organize. An LPPS representative spoke about the constitutional framework of association. She also described the process of forming self-help groups (SHG) with camel breeders' families in different clusters of Jaisalmer district. In the SHG programme, women's membership has been well established and they are now eligible for loans from the government sector. These groups are saving their bank balance and supporting other breeders for livestock purchases. In the afternoon, Kachchhi camel breeders went on a field visit to Khaba and met with local camel breeders at the home of Mulji, a successful breeder and member of LPPS. The local breeders welcomed their Kachchhi counterparts and exchanged experiences about their camels and rearing practices. Mulji also described Jaisalmer's biodiversity, and the role of camel in the local ecosystem.

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On the third day, camel breeders reached the Bikaner Veterinary College in order to visit the surgery and gynecology departments and the health clinic. Dr. T.K Gahlot, head of the college's department of surgery, made a presentation on health issues and various treatments. For their part, the breeders shared their knowledge of traditional healing methods. Representatives from the gynecology department also detailed out diseases that afflict camels during calving and their respective treatments.

Later in the day, the group visited the National Research Centre on Camel (NRCC). Here, the breeders went through the camel museum, which highlights the different products made from camel wool, skin, bone and milk. They also viewed the photographs on display from previous Jaisalmer fairs, illustrating the diversity among breeds, rearing practices and the popular competitions. Afterward, they visited the breeding farm, where the Bikaneri, Jaisalmeri, Kachchhi and Mewadi breeds can be observed. They also viewed the dairy unit and milk parlour, where raw and flavoured camel milk and tea were on offer. At the farm, they saw the herds and their watering source as well as the milking process. Camel breeders appreciated the visit to the NRCC, agreeing that something similar to the milk parlour and camel farm should be created through the Kachchhi camel breeders' association.

Kachchh Camel breeders reached Sadari of Pali district on the fourth day. In Sadari, members of LPPS make paper and diaries from camel dung with use of waste cotton. LPPS has recently established the camel dung paper unit. Camel breeders took note of the materials and machineries involved in the process of making paper from Camel dung. Camel breeders were very surprised by visit of this unit as they were not aware of Camel dung importance and market. Later in the day, camel breeders went to the field and met with local Raika camel breeders. Here, they observed the breed and its physical characteristics, and had another opportunity to share experiences of rearing practices with the Raika camel breeders.

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Kachchhi camel breeders gave positive feedback at the end of exposure, saying that they enjoyed the visit and gained a lot of new information about health care and product marketing. Lastly, they were very enthusiastic and ready for doing activities like the member registration process and forming different committees for making the breeders' association. They are also ready to establish market linkages for their camel products such as milk, wool and dung, if Government provides capital investment.

Shearing training cum competition event for Camel breeders

Recent efforts recent activities under Camel project

Sahjeevan has organized shearing training cum competition programme in two clusters (Lakhpat and Bhachau) for Camel breeders. Resources persons from Mitan Handicraft limited, Belgao (Karnataka). Mr. Kamal Kishor and Mr.Gopikrishan imparted shearing training, wool quality, wool products and their market. Camel competition was organized in both clusters. Khamir, a craft based organization has also participated in the programme as they will be involve in camel wool processing and market in future. During the programme, Camel breeders are very excited and competed to one-another for cutting wool and designing on camel for getting a first prize. Amongst Camel breeders, a committee formed for to judge and give first three award amongst participates. In Camel shearing competition total 20 breeders were participated. After training, basic a w a r e n e s s , c a p a c i t y b u i l d i n g a n d understanding made on utilization of Camel wool products and their market. Camel breeders are wants to work on Camel wool market in future and there by can get regular income from selling of wool and their products. They also wanted that, government to invest on infrastructure for value addition of Camel wool and their product as like Sheep wool.

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District level Camel Seminar

A seminar on “Technology Interventions to Enhance Camel Productivity” was collectively organized by Anand Agricultural University, Anand and Sahjeevan, Bhuj at district level in which, Dr.K.B.Raval, Joint director, Rajkot, Dr. N. V. Patil, Bikaner (NRCC), Dr. P.P.Patel, Director of Extension Education,AAU, Dr. J.V. S o l a n k i , D e a n & P r i n c i p a l , A . A . U , Dr.K.N.Wadhwani and Dr.Parikh,A.A.U, Dr. Sabyasachi Das, Sahjeevan, Mr.Gunvant Shah and Representative of different organization, universities and institution were presented in this seminar. Sixty four camel breeders form 7 taluka participated in this seminar.

It is first time to organize Camel seminar for Camel importance and status of Camel breeders for create basic understanding on Camel utilization in different way in a regular life. In the starting of seminar, Dr. N.V. Patil reported that Camel is a useful and profitable animal in dry arid ecosystem. They also said that utility of different breeds of Camel in India. He explained about Camel milk products and its medicinal properties like as diabetes and vaccine prepare from Camel milk against cancer and snake poisoning diseases. Camel milk has good protein properties, so its prevent allergy amongst children.

After first lecture, Souvenir of Swarnim Gujarat Camel Seminar and the logo of “Kachchh

Unt Uchherak Maldhari Sangathan” was lunched by representatives of Camel breeders and

stage dignities.

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Dr. Sabyasachi Das form Sahjeevan in his speech said that fifty percent livelihood depend on Animal Husbandry in Kachchh. Maldharis are traditionally conserving indigenous livestock breed from generation to generation in their life. We are trying to do some work on conserving grazing land, water sources and breed in native tract. He also told that, Camel milk prize should be high because it has medicinal value because Camel feed 35 type of medicinal plant in a grazing area. Camel wool market has huge potential in western Countries. Lastly he said that we must highly recognize and respect traditional knowledge of Camel breeders.

Dr.K.B.Raval reported that, Camel population is decreasing day by day from the showing livestock census of 2003 and 2007. Life style is rapidly changed and Animal Husbandry is reducing day by day due to coming fast urbanization and industrialization. Now are days some activities on conserving livestock breed and organizing livestock breeders by State and Central Government by sanctioned several projects. We would like to solve critical issues of livestock breeders by working together as Government sector, Different scientist, Organizations and Livestock breeders.

In the technical session of seminar, a good presentation was presented by different scientist and representative of organization. Camel breeders have come to know Camel has efficiency for working as draft animal in various ways like fodder cutting, electricity generation, transportation and for manning atta chakki etc. Another surprise for participate that, in a seminar presentation showed a video clip of Kharai Camel breed (Costal area Camel) swimming in a sea water. Its breed mostly found in the costal areas (Lakhpat, Bhachau, Abdasa and Mundra) of Kachchh district. Different participate explained that it is new and imaging for us, Camel can swim easily like other sea animals.

At the end of seminar, Camel breeders became very glad by such event and realize that, some work has done for them. A good presentation on

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camel draft ability, Camel milk importance, Camel field level diseases and Conservation of Camel breeds were presented by different scientist, doctors and representative from different organization in the seminar. A lot of new learning's made amongst Camel breeders and other participant by these good presentations in seminar.

During the seminar, representative from Camel breeders explained that, now are days different untreatable Camel disease come to in the herd. Camel mortality is quite become high in herd due to these new coming diseases, so government should take a necessary step and provide some medicine against these diseases in Kachchh.

In the end of the seminar, Dr. G. M. Mansury, Department of Animal Husbandry,Gandhinagar announced that, in next year (2011-2012) Government of Gujarat take a decision of give free medicine for two major camel disease like as, Fitoda and Khaji for 10,000 Camel in Gujarat. Breeders were become very happy from such type of benefit and support from Department of Animal Husbandry, Gandhi agar and Government of Gujarat. Camel breeders were very appreciated from this type of seminar and in future they will ready for participate and cooperate for such type of event.

On the morning of Camel seminar day, cooperative organizing Camel Cart Reflector Programme at Madhapar(Bhuj) by Anand Agricultural University, Anand and Sahjeevan, B h u j , D e p a r t m e n t o f A n i m a l H u s b n a d r y, G a n d h i n a g a r a n d B h u j , Polyclinic,Bhuj, Smast Mahajan,Mumbai and Shuparshva Trust,Bhuj. In this programme, a total 40 Camel cart came to place and attach reflector to prevent night road accident during transportation. Organizer also distributed kit/bag included good, chana and mineral mixture to maldharies for their Camel Cart. During this programme veterinary doctors provide health facility to weak and ill Camel. The owner of Camel Cart said that, after this Camel reflector programme, Camel accident maximum address during night transport. They were also very appreciated from this type of programme and in future they will ready for participate and cooperate for such type of event.

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Camel Cart Reflector Programme

Socioeconomic conditions of camel breeders in Kachchh

Generally, camel breeders in Kachchh do not own land. The few breeders engaged in dry-land agriculture grow crops like bajara, mag, guar, and math, and zeru and aranda in the monsoon and winter seasons, respectively. During socioeconomic survey, it is noticed that 67 % breeders engage in Camel rearing and 37 % involve in both as farming as well as Camel rearing. Most of the breeders are illiterate and have engaged in camel rearing for generations, though today some of the younger generation have left the trade due to lack of interest or in search of higher-income, more stable work. Camels are sold for day-to-day income because markets for wool and milk do not exist. In Kachchh, males from the Rabari and Jat communities predominantly engage in camel rearing, though women from the Jat communities also participate in the livelihood. Mainly Camel milk used by breeders for self consumption, for calves and some time they give to patient of Diabetes, T.B, Barol,Cancer and Asthma. So it is indicated that Camel milk has medicinal properties and it will be used widely for incurable diseases by doing some experimentation on Camel milk In Kachchh, present no market exist for Camel wool, most of the breeders can only use wool for making some items as Veno, Kurekhi, Pariyar, Anhoti (for Prevent milking by calves) Daman and different thread. Some Rabari breeders give their camels to Jats on monthly grazing charge of Rs. 30 to 50 per camel. The average herd size is 50-100 camels. Most of the breeders receive money on credit at interest rates from 5-10% for rations, animal health care, and their own social lives. Because they only sell camels and not milk or wool products, the money they make goes back to the merchants, from whom they are extended credit, leaving them with little extra income of their own. In this region, camel breeders' social lives are economically very poor. Although the government provides health services for buffalo and cattle on a regular basis, these benefits are currently not reciprocated for camels. Nor does a bank loan system exist for breeders. As a result, breeders migrate widely from one place to another, searching for food and water for their camels. The growth of industrial activities in Kachchh has further minimized the available food and water sources, and salinity has increased throughout the region. Thus, the socioeconomic condition of camel breeders in Kachchh is very terrible and the government should be take necessary steps to improve the situation.

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Camel Health Services

During the reported period, Sahjeevan organized Three Awareness Programme Cum Health camp for Kachchhi and Kharai Camel with help of Suzlon Foundation, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Department of Animal Husbandry-Bhuj and Samast Mahajan-Mumbai . Main ly Kachchhi and Kharai camel suffered from three diseases like as Trypanosomiasis (Fitoda), Dermatitis (Khaji) and Pneumonia (Chhedo). A total 353 camels treated against Trypnosomiasis (Fitodo), 219 camels for Dermatitis (Khaji) and 50 Camels were treated for Pneumonia (Table 1). Total 48 camel breeders were participated in those camps and given 10 % contribution of medicine cost for camps. Awareness created amongst Kachchh district camel breeders for camel health due to such type of camps. Camel breeders expressed their happiness in having such camps in their locality and committed to support NGOs, Government and different company in any such initiatives in future. They appeal that these types of treatment camps should be organized on regular basis.

Table 1. List of Treatment Camps under the project

Sr.No Place of Health camp

No of Camel breeders participated

No of camel treated for Trypnosomiasis (Fitodo)

No of Camel treated for Dermatitis (Khaji)

No of Camel treated for Pnemonia(Chhedo)

1 Mohadi(Abdasa) 17 300 180 20 2 Chharidhandh(Bhuj) 24 53 35 11 3 Vrajvani(Rapar) 7 - 4 19 Total 48 353 219 50

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Formation of Self Help Group (SHG) for woman empowerment

Recently Sahjeevan doing efforts to assessment and new formation of SHG for woman's of Camel breeders in different clusters of Kachchh. Assessment is doing for participation and benefits of womans in different ongoing SHG at Lakhapat and Abadasa taluka by representative of Kachchh Mahila Vikas Sangathan. After assessment from two clusters, Sahjeevan selected two places for forming new SHG for womans of Camel breeders. Sahjeevan wants under the Camel project, increase participation of womans and doing some bank linkage with breeders by SHG to strengthening the breeders association in Kachchh. Now are days, one SHG at Vadavabhopa in Nakhatrana taluka has formed and name and objectives was decided for the working group.

Future plan:-

: Physical and Genetic Characterization of Kharai Camel breed

:Establish market for Camel value addition products(Milk, Wool)

:Strengthening of Camel Breeders Association

:Awareness Programme cum Health camps will be organized

:Sustainability increase for SHG amongst Camel breeders

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