# Key Research Bodies Team Up in Rajasthan to Safeguard Camels and Unlock Dairy Incomes > Institutions in Jodhpur and Bikaner have partnered through a pact focused on camel conservation, genetic improvement, and the commercial processing of camel milk to revive rural earnings. **Type:** article · **Category:** Rajasthan · **Published:** 2026-10-15 · **Source:** TrendKia **Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/rajasthan/rajasthan-men-registana-ke-jahaja-ko-bachane-aura-deyari-se-ajivika-snvarane-ko-do-bare-snsthana-ae-satha-47854 · **Language:** English **Tags:** Camel Conservation, Camel Milk, Agriculture University Jodhpur, NRCC Bikaner, Bikaner, Rajasthan, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Farming Scientific expertise is stepping in to reverse the shrinking presence of the camel across desert landscapes while transforming traditional herds into a dependable commercial enterprise. Addressing the steep decline in the population of Rajasthan's state animal, the Agriculture University, Jodhpur has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the National Research Centre on Camel, Bikaner, an Indian Council of Agricultural Research body. The partnership focuses on field research, herd welfare, genetic upgrading, and strengthening livestock husbandry across arid regions. ## Sustaining an Ecological Anchor in the Thar In western Rajasthan, camels represent far more than draft animals or conventional livestock. They form an irreplaceable pillar of rural tradition, desert heritage, and village livelihoods. The continuous depletion of herds has raised alarm bells for pastoral communities, desert ecosystems, and age-old pastoralist practices. Reversing this downward trend demands coordinated interventions where laboratory insights translate into direct assistance for pastoral households who have tended these herds for generations. ## Commercializing Camel Milk as a Source of Steady Revenue A central pillar of the joint roadmap involves converting camel milk into high-value dairy commodities. Highlighting the therapeutic qualities of the produce, Dr. A.K. Poonia, director of the National Research Centre on Camel, referred to camel milk as a "mobile pharmacy" and called for its commercial use and marketing to be actively encouraged. Currently, pastoralists struggle with inadequate milk preservation, limited processing facilities, and poor logistics to reach affluent urban consumers. Developing diverse value-added products and building structured supply chains can open fresh income channels for rural rearers. Both research establishments plan to concentrate on processing technologies, product development, and market linkages so that keeping camels becomes an economically rewarding enterprise once again. ## Bridging University Classrooms and Field Herds The institutional alliance also intends to channel academic rigor directly toward ground-level pastoral challenges. Expressing serious concern over dropping numbers, Prof. Virendra Singh Jaitawat, vice chancellor of the Agriculture University, Jodhpur, emphasized that safeguarding the animal requires robust efforts on a scientific level. He noted that livestock and agriculture remain intrinsically intertwined within fragile desert ecologies. Through collaborative projects, university students and scholars will investigate herd healthcare, selective breeding, reproductive efficiency, and feeding management. Merging modern veterinary knowledge with the instinctive wisdom of desert herdsmen will equip rearers with superior livestock handling techniques, ensuring sustainable animal welfare alongside enhanced yields. ## Strengthening the Broader Conservation Push During the event, Dr. H.S. Jat, director of the Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, urged all agricultural and veterinary bodies to work collectively to reinforce the broader campaign to save camels. He underscored the urgency of scaling up preservation initiatives across all arid districts. The formal exchange of agreement papers was carried out by Vice Chancellor Prof. Virendra Singh Jaitawat and Director Dr. A.K. Poonia. Senior scientist Dr. Pradeep Pagaria outlined the strategic targets and roadmap of the agreement, while principal scientist Dr. Rakesh Ranjan detailed ongoing technological developments and research initiatives underway at the Bikaner facility. ## What this means for you This strategic alliance aims to revive the economics of camel herding while introducing nutrient-rich desert dairy items to wider markets. - **In Rajasthan:** Desert camel rearers gain structured technical support for milk preservation and processing. This helps transform traditional livestock keeping into a commercially viable rural enterprise. - **Across India:** Health-conscious consumers in urban markets will access authentic camel milk and value-added derivative goods. Expanding commercial channels will strengthen supply chains connecting rural deserts to city shelves. - **For pastoralists:** Improved breeding protocols and veterinary interventions will curb herd diseases and lower mortality. Better management ensures higher resilience and improved milk yields for herdsmen. - **For researchers:** University scholars and veterinary students secure hands-on opportunities to study desert livestock dynamics. Field findings will help integrate traditional pastoral methods with modern veterinary sciences. ## Why this happened A steady drop in camel populations coupled with shrinking revenues for desert herdsmen prompted this coordinated institutional intervention. - **Depleting herd numbers:** Mechanized transport and the shrinkage of open grazing tracts reduced the day-to-day reliance on camels, causing their numbers to fall. Reversing this decline required urgent and structured scientific measures. - **Limited economic returns:** Traditional pastoralists struggled to earn sustainable livelihoods solely from transport and draft labor. A lack of organized cold chains and commercial markets for camel milk discouraged families from maintaining herds. - **Need for scientific synergy:** Protecting fragile arid ecologies requires direct collaboration between agricultural universities and specialized research bodies. Pooling institutional resources became essential to modernize breeding, veterinary care, and dairy processing. ## Questions & Answers ### 1. What is the primary objective of the pact between the Jodhpur and Bikaner institutions? The agreement aims to promote camel conservation, improve animal health and genetics, and expand the commercial potential of camel milk. ### 2. Which organizations have entered into this agreement? The Agriculture University, Jodhpur and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research's National Research Centre on Camel, Bikaner signed the memorandum. ### 3. Why was camel milk referred to as a 'mobile pharmacy'? Dr. A.K. Poonia, director of the National Research Centre on Camel, used the phrase to underline the therapeutic value and health benefits of camel milk. ### 4. What practical challenges do camel rearers currently encounter? Herdsmen face hurdles in milk preservation, hygienic processing, finding profitable markets, and securing direct access to consumers. ### 5. What did Dr. H.S. Jat emphasize during the signing event? The director of the Central Arid Zone Research Institute urged institutions to join forces to reinforce the wider campaign to save camels. --- _TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._