| ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY& DAIRYING
(SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)
(a) to (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFFERED TO IN LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 191 PART (a) TO (d) ON “DECLINE IN CAMEL POPULATION” TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.12.2022.
(a) & (b) According to the report of livestock census, the camel population in the country has shown an overall decline over past two censuses. The total camel population has declined from 400 thousand to 252 thousand in 20th Livestock Census (2019) as compared to 19th Livestock Census (2012).
The camel population at All-India level during the last two Livestock Censuses along with difference over the previous livestock census is as under:
Census Year Camel Population
(lakh number) Percentage
Change
19th Livestock Census (2012) 4.00 -22.63
20th Livestock Census (2019) 2.52 -37.05
(c) About 84% India’s camel population survives in Rajasthan. The following are the main reasons for gradual decrease of Camel population according to Animal Husbandry Department, Govt. of Rajasthan:
i. Progressive mechanization of agriculture sector has reduced utility of camel in agriculture sector.
ii. Most of the interior areas are connected with pakka roads and dependency on camels for transportation from one area to another are reducing gradually. People prefer vehicle for transportation rather than using camel.
iii. Grazing lands have declined due to establishment of Indira Gandhi Nahar Sinchaii Project in Badmer, Bikaner, Churu, Hanumangarh, Jaiselmer, Jodhpur and Sriganganagar districts of Rajasthan. These grazing lands were the main fodder source for camel.
iv. It has become difficult for camel rearers to provide fodder to camels due to restrictions in forests areas.
v. Rajasthan Government has announced Camel as their State animal and implemented ”Rajasthan Camel (Prohibition of Slaughter and Regulation of Temporary Migration or Export) Bill, 2015”. Under Rajasthan Camel Act 2015 there is ban on evacuation or temporary migration out of the state and slaughter of camel. Due to implementation of this bill, inter State trading of camel is prohibited.
vi. The younger generation of camel rearers are moving away themself from the camel husbandry practices due to their higher educational status and little scope in camel rearing.
(d) As intimated by Animal Husbandry Department, Government of Rajasthan the efforts taken by the Government of Rajasthan are as follows:
i. There is organised market of camel milk or camel dairy established in the State.
ii. Keeping in view the constant decrease in camel population State Govt of Rajasthan has started Camel conservation scheme of Rajasthan will promote the production of camel calf. Under this scheme total Rs. 10,000/- will be given to camel rearers in two installments (for each calf born at the age 0-2 months and 1 year).
iii. To provide for prohibition of slaughter of camel and also to regulate temporary migration or export thereof from Rajasthan, the state has enacted and enforced “The Rajasthan Camel (Prohibition of Slaughter And Regulation of Temporary Migration or Export) Act, 2015”.
iv. Government of Rajasthan is providing free health care and free health check up with free medicine distribution through its Hospitals, Sub-centre and mobile units.
v. To save dwindling camel population, the Government of Rajasthan has declared the camel as official State Animal in 2014.
vi. National Research Centre on Camel, Bikaner and Lokhit Pashupalak Sansthaan; Saaddi, Paali are trying to make camel milk famous among public through preparation of processed milk products such as Icecream, flavoured milk etc.
vii. National Research Centre on Camel is working with National Institute of Engineering & Technology (NIET), Kolkata on use of camel hair in combination with jute.
viii. Preparation of Handmade papers and bricks from fiber rich camel dung is being explored.
ix. The Animal Husbandry Department, Govt. of Rajasthan has organized 340 Health camps during March 2021 where 21600 camels were treated for Surra disease. Trainings were also imparted to camel rearers.
Gujarat contributing to 11% of total camel population in the country has taken the following steps:
i. State Government of Gujarat is keen on preserving and propogating camel population through provision of health care facilities to camels.
ii. The camel rearing center at Dhori, Kutchh is working in a scientific manner for the purpose of increasing the number of camels through pure breeding.
iii. Surplus male camels other than requirement of the farm are supplied to camel breeders, Border Security Force and police department at nominal price.
iv. State Government of Gujarat has provided assistance for establishment of procurement and processing of camel milk in Kutchh region.
To supplement the effort of State Government, the Government of India has taken the following steps to protect the interest of camel breeders-
The State Government and other institutions may seek assistance for camel conservation under the sub-mission of ‘Innovation and Extension’ of National Livestock Mission (NLM) scheme of DAHD. This sub-mission aims to incentivize the Institutes, Universities, Organizations carrying out research and development related to sheep, goat, pig and feed and fodder sector, extension activities, livestock insurance and innovation. Under this sub-mission, assistance is provided to the Central Agencies, ICAR Institutes and University farms for applied research required for development of the sector, extension services including promotional activities for animal husbandry and schemes, seminars, conferences, demonstration activities and other IEC activities for awareness generation.
Under this sub-mission, a component named ‘Livestock Insurance’ has been included, the benefit of which can be taken by the Camel breeders. The objective of the component is to manage the risk and uncertainties by providing protection mechanism to the camel breeders against any eventual loss of their animals due to death. It has been implemented in conjunction with State Governments. Benefit of subsidy for insurance premium restricted to 5 animals per beneficiary per household.
The Government of India has established National Research Centre on Camel (NRCC) in 1984 under the aegis of Indian Council of Agricultural Research in Bikaner, Rajasthan to promote research and development on camels. It has conducted basic and applied research work both on one and double humped camel and the work will help to protect the interests of camel breeders.
ICAR-NBAGR has registered nine breeds of native camel in the country, so far. All nine registered breeds of native camel have also been Gazette Notified by the DARE, MoAFW, Govt of India in 2019. ICAR-NBAGR has carried out in situ conservation of Kharai camel of Gujarat during 2017-2020 under the Network Program on AnGR. Further, somatic cell germplasm of Kutchi, Kharai, Bikaneri, Jaisalmeri, Mewari, Jalori, Mewati and Marwari camel and semen germplasm of Jaisalmeri camel have been cryopreserved at the National Gene Bank at NBAGR. |
