Progress Report Mobilizing Kachchhi Camel Breeders towards Organizing Structure in Kutch District Under the centrally sponsored scheme of “ Conservation of Threatend Breeds of Livestock ” “ Conservation of Kachchhi Camels ” Submitted to Submitted by Department of Animal Husbandry Sahjeevan Gandhinagar Bhuj-Kutch Government of Gujarat INDEX Introduction............................................................................. 1 Activities carried out during reporting period.......................... 2 I. Survey of Camel Breeders & Camel Population................. 2 Socioeconomic conditions of Camel breeders in Kachchh.....3 Management Practices for Kachchhi Camel.......................... 5 Migration pattern of Camel breeders ..................................... 6 Major Issues of Kachchh Camel breeders ............................ 7 II. Mobilizing Camel Breeders for their association................ 7 Taluka level Camel Breeders Meetings.................................. 7 District level Camel Breeders Workshop................................ 8 Village level Meetings for Member Registration.....................9 Taluka level meetings for selection of Executive Committee.. 10 General Body Meeting of Camel Breeders ............................ 10 Other Activities under Camel Project...................................... 11 Future Direction...................................................................... 20 Annexure I.............................................................................. 21 Introduction Kachchhi camels have its native breeding tract in Kachchh district of Gujarat. It is found in different talukas of the district. According to Livestock census 2003 and 2007 (provisional) the population of Kachchhi camel in Kachchh district was 10477 and 8575 respectively. So, approximately 20 percent decline in camel population was recorded in 4 year. Therefore, it was realized to consider Kachchhi Camel as threatened breed, hence, with the participation of Breeders ,NGOs and Department of Animal Husbandry, Government of Gujarat would function collectively to check further decline in camel population. Hence, the project on “Mobilizing Kachchhi Camel Breeders towards Organizing Structure in Kachchh District” was prepared by Sahjeevan for conservation of Kachchhi Camel. This project was approved under the centrally sponsored scheme, of Conservation of Threatened Breed and routed through Department of Animal Husbandry, Govt. of Gujarat and implemented by Sahjeevan, a voluntary organization working in the field of environmental conservation, Natural Resource Management and promotion of Traditional Livelihood in Kachchh District of Gujarat since 1991. Main mandate of this project was to mobilize Kachchhi Camel Breeders towards formation of their association through capacity building, intense interactions and establishing linkages for services and marketing which would lead to conservation of Kachchhi Camels and check further decline in its population. The specific objectives of this project are as follows: 8 To mobilize camel breeders and formation of Breeders Organization. 8 To facilitate camel health care service and effective vaccination/prophylaxis especially for Surra in collaboration with Dept. of Animal Husbandry and partner NGOs. 8 To understand local knowledge system of camel breeding and identify superior male germ plasm and its supply to breeders. 8 Development of literature for promotion of camel milk use in human diet as it has medicinal value and improved use of camel cart. 8 To arrange camel show during local festivals. 1 Activities carried out during reporting period I. Survey of Camel Breeders & Camel Population A Survey was carried out in order to know the existing distribution of Camel breeders in Kachchh district (Table 1), The survey also attempted to know Camel population, camel rearing practices and present issues they face as far as conservation of Camel breeds are concerned. Accordingly a questionnaire was designed and survey was carried out in different parts of Kachchh district with the support of local NGOs who has rapport with camel breeders. Data were collected through interview with Camel breeders individually, as well as through group discussion. The survey revealed presence of total 319 camel breeders belong to 92 villages spreading over 8 talukas. Mainly, Rabari, Fakirani Jat, Sama, Harijan, Darbar and Notiyar communities rear Kachchhi Camel in the district (Annexure I). It was found that majority of Camel Breeders belong to Lakhpat taluka, followed by Bhachau and Nakhatrana Taluka. Interestingly, during survey, Camel breeders reported to have separate Camel breed locally called Kharai Camel, thus survey was done keeping in view of Kachchhi as well as Kharai camel. Present survey, through discussion with camel breeders, revealed that more than 12000 Camels population, out of which 10335 are Kachchhi Camel and rest 2173 are Kharai Camel is prevailing through out the district. The Kharai camels, which graze on mangroves, are found in four talukas (Mundra, Abdasa, Lakhpat and Bhachau). Of the 319 camel breeders, 72 of them rear more than 2000 Kharai camels. Village and Taluka wise distribution of Camel and Camel breeders are given in Annexure I. 2 Table 2 indicates distribution of Camel breeders in different categories according to their herd size. The survey found that majority of the camel breeders (40.13 %) are categorized in small herder having herd size of 11-30 Camels; followed by 33.54 % medium herder category, 12.86 % Camel breeders have herd size above 60 Camels. It is also noted that 107 out of 319 camel breeders have medium herd size ranging from 31 to 60 camels. Table 1 Camel Breeds of Kachchh Sr.No Camel breeds Name of Taluka No of Camel of Kachchh Breeders population 1 Kachchhi Lakhapat,abdasa, 247 10335 Nakhatrana,Bhuj,Anjar,Bh achau,Mundra,Rapar 2 Kharai Lakhapat,abdasa, Bhachau, 72 2173 Mundra Total 2 8 319 12508 Table 2. Categories of Camel Breeders Breeders No of Camel Breeders Percentage (%) Marginal(=<10 Camels) 43 13.48 Small(11-30) 128 40.13 Medium (31-60) 107 33.54 Large (61-90) 16 5.02 Very Large(>90) 25 7.84 Total 319 100 Socioeconomic conditions of Camel breeders in Kachchh Generally, camel breeders in Kachchh do not own land. However, 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 (Table 3), 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 3 women from the Jat communities also participate in the livelihood. 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 could be used widely for incurable diseases by doing some experimentation on Camel milk. In Kachchh, at present, no market exist for Camel wool, most of the breeders 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 are very poor and marginalized. Bank loan do not provide to 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. Table 3 Socioeconomic Study Sample Distribution Sr.No No of Total No of Total No Responded village Covered of House Household Village hold 1 92 38 319 113 4 Management Practices for Kachchhi Camel Housing/Feeding Kachchhi camels are reared by members of the Rabari, Kandi (Jat), Thakor, Harijan, Notiyar and Sama communities in the district, mostly landless. Extensive grazing practices are followed by the breeders in the district. They do not provide special housing/shelter for their camels. Kachchhi camels graze near village simtal, moving around 10-15 km, on a rotational basis in order to avoid overgrazing. Camels graze on trees like neem (Azadiractha indica), babool (Acacia nilotica), peepal (Ficus religiosa), kharijar (Salvadora persica), mithijar (Salvadora oleoides), Vekado (Maytenus semerginata), mango (Mangifera indica), banyan (Ficus banghalensis), and khijado (Prosopis Cineraria), as well as shrubs such as Layar (Cordia peroettii) arni (Clerodendron phlomidis), chekudi