Farm mechanisation; Camel on its last legs in Punjab

Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh/ Mansa, January 12

The fleet -footed camel, once the mainstay of farmers of the region, is on the verge of extinction thanks to mechanization of farming and the advent of small goods carriers.

Though Punjab government is holding a camel dance and decoration competition during the 8th Livestock Championship in Muktsar these days, but with 99 per cent decline in the population in the past two decades, the camel is on the verge of extinction in the state due to emergence of small goods carriers.

Their number has dipped in the past one decade and now there are just around 600 camels in Punjab from 43,000 in 1990. It has been a downhill journey ever since and the numbers touched 30,000 in 2003. However, the decline was alarming in the past one decade. As per the 18th Livestock Census, the numbers touched 2,200 from 2003 to 2007.

As per the 19th Livestock Census (last census), there were just 693 camels in the state in the semi-arid areas of Bathinda and Ferozpur bordering Rajasthan. Ferozepur tops with 278 camels and followed by Bathinda with 139 camels and Sangrur with just 58 camels. There is no other district in which the number of camels crosses 40. There are nine districts where the number of camels is less than 10.

According to experts, traditionally the camel was primarily used for agriculture and as a beast of burden.

A senior official of the Department of Animal Husbandry, requesting anonymity, said the camel was used for ploughing but the situation changed once tractors were introduced after the Green Revolution.

But still one could find marginal farmers using camel in the fields in districts like Mansa and Bathinda till the mid 90’s. Inderjit Singh of Tamkot village in Mansa used camels for various agricultural activities till the mid 80s.

“Till two decades ago, camels were a common sight in our village. Now there is one camel in the village which is being used for transportation purposes,” he said.

After agriculture, the camel was used for transportation. “The emergence of small mechanised vehicles hit animals like mules, donkeys etc. Camel, due to its draft capabilities, was one animal that survived among all for the longest period,” said Dr Sumant Vyas, Principal Scientist, National Research Centre on Camel, Bikaner.

“At present the camel costs anywhere between Rs 60,000 to Rs 70,000 and with a cart the cost goes up to Rs 1.25 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh. With a little more money one can get a small pick –up vehicle which fast and efficient. Who will go for a camel cart in such a scenario,” he pointed out.

He said that extinction of any animal from a state is very unfortunate. “Camels had a glorious past but are now facing an uncertain future,” he added.

Box

Year Population

1990 43,300

1997 29,708

2003 30,467

2007 2214

2012 693