A typology of camel farming systems in Bikaner and Jaisalmer districts of Rajasthan, India

The camel uses various adaptive mechanisms for life in the desert. In the dry land ecosystem camel rearing is regarded as a fairly constant resource for sustenance. The camel has a great importance in the local, social culture of the societies inhabiting the dry lands. Marketing of camels is an important trade in India where it is also used as a draft animal. Consequently, Khanna and Rai suggested that camels used as draft animals be encouraged in arid regions (6). Camel power for farming use is more economical than a pair of bullocks, and the burden camel energy is not only cost effective but also profitable. With about 6.8% of the world camel population, India ranks third after Somalia and Sudan (2). The Indian camel population was 1.078 million in 1982 (7) and is mostly confined to the northwestern parts of the country. Rajasthan State has the highest camel population (70.13% of the Indian camel population in 1982) followed by Haryana, Gujarat and Punjab. In 1982 a total of 59,000 and 52,000 camels were recorded in Bikaner and Jaisalmer districts of Rajasthan, respectively (7).