Portrayal of Camel Production in The Desert Ecosystem of Pakistan

Abstract

Camel plays a pivotal role in the subsistence pastoral economy of diverse ecozones extending from Gobi Desert and India in central Asia to Somalia and Ethiopia in the horn of Africa. Camel has special attributes including its appearance and ability to survive in hot, harsh and versatile arid environments. Camel has fascinated mankind as it can tolerate many stresses like heat; scarcity of water; water with high salinity and shortage of feed. Camel can digest dry matter and coarse crude fiber better than any other ruminants. Among domestic animals, the dromedary is most important animal being survive in hot, arid and semi-arid regions and has potential to produce higher quality foods (meat and milk) under extreme environments at lower costs. Camel can tolerate solar radiations, higher temperatures and water scarcity. Camel consume those feed materials which remains un-utilized by other domestic animals, thus thrive well on sandy deserts with poor vegetation. Adaptation of Camelids in Pakistan is very well to their native environment as they are performing and well sustaining a life in hostile deserts. The dromedaries provide milk and meat to the pastorals and herders in those areas where the survival of other livestock species is very tough. So, camels equilibrate the food security chain in the deep deserts and provide nourishment to its keepers; proving it to be a good candidate of food security and sovereignty in the desert ecosystem.