Lok Sabha Question No. 191 (STARRED), answered on 2022-12-20
Subject: Decline in Camel Population
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Pratap Chandra Sarangi, P.P. Chaudhary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY& DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY & DAIRYING LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION No. 191 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20 TH  DECEMBER, 2022

## DECLINE IN CAMEL POPULATION

*191. SHRI PRATAP CHANDRA SARANGI:

SHRI P.P. CHAUDHARY:

## Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING मत्स्यपाऱन , पशुपाऱन और डेयरी मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the overall decline of population of came over the past few years;
- (b) if so, the details of decline in number of camels during each of the last two years;
- (c) whether the Ministry is aware of the reasons of the said decline and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the details of the steps taken by the Government to protect the interests of camel breeders?

## 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  20 th Livestock  Census  (2019)  as  compared  to  19 th 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 |
|-------------------------------|----------------------------------|---------------------|
| 19 th Livestock Census (2012) |                             4    |              -22.63 |
| 20 th 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.

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