Khem Chand, B.L. Jangid, Subhash Kachhawaha and M.M. Roy
Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur 342003, India
ABSTRACT
Camel breeding is a source of employment for Raika community in southern Rajasthan. Primary survey of camel breeders (n=75) revealed that for more than 90% of sample households camel breeding was the main occupation with average herd size of 21.06 units of camel. Traders dominated camel marketing as more than 80% animals were sold in the village itself through them who take these animals for further sale in Pushkar, Jhalrapatan, Kasba Thana and other livestock fairs of Rajasthan state. The major demand of camel comes from farmers for use in agricultural operations, carters for transportation of goods and dairy owners selling camel milk. Average net return worked out per camel household per year was 1.01 lakh with B:C ratio of 1.99. The camel herding was found financially viable enterprise in southern Rajasthan with a payback period of 03 years, positive Net Present Value (NPV), and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 55.73%. The value of IRR was about 04 times higher than camel breeding enterprise in arid region of Rajasthan due to opportunity to sell camel milk in southern Rajasthan.
Key words: Breeding, camel, cost, investment, management, marketing returns, southern Rajasthan
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