PRODUCTION AND MARKETING OF CAMEL PRODUCTS IN SEMIDESERT AND DESERT AREAS OF PAKISTAN
Abid Hussain*, Khalid Mahmood Aujla* and Sonila Hassan**
ABSTRACT
The study was designed to analyze the production and marketing of camel products in the semi-desert and desert areas of Pakistan. It is based on cross-sectional data collected through simple random sampling technique in April, 2011 from 220 camel farmers and 17 market intermediaries. It is found that both camel farmers and market intermediaries were less educated. It is observed that markets for camel milk, meat, hides and hair are less established in semi desert and desert areas of the country. Mean production of milk per farm household was 5.4 and 6.5 liters per day in summer and winter seasons, respectively; however, none of the surveyed farmers reported milk sale. During last one year, sales of camel hides and hair were reported by few farmers (6% each). Mean purchase price of camel hides reported by shopkeepers in nearby town markets were higher than village level prices by 74.6 % and even more in case of hair. This is an indicative of camel farmers' exploitation by the village dealers. Mean quantity of hair sales was about 20 kg per farm per annum. Camel hair are also used by the farmers for making ropes, rugs and blankets, but all these byproducts are not marketed. Shares of farmers in the consumer rupee for camel meat, milk, hides and hair were about 61%, 75%, 52% and 26%, respectively. Keeping in view poor status of camel products' markets, development of proper marketing system and structure for camel products by involving camel farmers and other local stakeholders is recommended to benefit the local communities by ameliorating supply of camel products in local markets.
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