Two days Farmer-Scientist interaction meets and animal health camps were organized by the National Research Centre on Camel, Bikaner under the Tribal Sub Plan at Isra and Mandwara villages in Sirohi, Rajasthan on 17 and 18 August 2018.
While interacting with the camel herders, Dr. A.K. Vashishth, ADG & Nodal Officer,TSP, ICAR said that for establishing camel milk trade, famers should make collective efforts by forming self-help groups at different Camel milk collection points. He appreciated the efforts of ICAR-NRCC in promoting Camel farmers to form a co-operative society “Unt Palak Seva Samiti, Sarahi” for trading of camel milk. He emphasized that the rates of Camel milk need be decided based on its therapeutic value.
Shri Devender Kumar, Director (Finance), ICAR while describing the importance of farmer producer organizations urged the camel herders to form cooperative societies for realizing higher economic benefits. This will also encourage the rural youths to adopt camel dairying as a vocation by which the Camel conservation efforts will be boosted.
Dr. N.V. Patil, Director, ICAR-NRCC while appreciating the efforts of the local camel herders for trading camel milk, urged to explore the markets located at different places in India, having a good rail and road connectivity. He appreciated the efforts of Shri Devi Lal who is trading freeze-dried camel milk powder and asked him to share his experience for rural youths to adopt this as a business model.
Shri Devi Lal, a progressive camel farmer of Isra village, shared his experience of marketing freeze-dried camel milk powder.
Scientists interacted and informed about clean milk production, breed improvement methods, various disease control measures and difficulties faced in marketing of milk.
Animal feed supplement and mineral mixture prepared at the centre to improve milk production were distributed.
In the Animal Health Camps, 178 farmers participated (Isra-74, Mandwada 104) wherein 3519 animals comprising 874 camels, 989 sheep, 1184 goat, 178 cow and 294 buffaloes were treated for various ailments.
