A combination of abundant water and pasture land boosted by the entry of at least two major dairies collecting milk from across the district has boosted the dairy sector in Kutch. Here the milk production has jumped over the past three decades from a little over 1.5 lakh ton in the early 1980s to more than 3 lakh ton in 2009-10 as per state Animal Husbandry Department (AHD). Animal husbandry in Kutch has been booming and milk production is only one part of this, said Subhash Chandra Wankar,deputy director of the AHD. Buffalo population,which contributes to a third or so of the entire milk supply,in the district has more than doubled since 1983 and currently stands at over 2 lakh. The species abundance has been due to different factors,said Wankar,including the economic gains buffalo milk fetches in the dairy sector and the mechanisation of farming,reducing the usefulness of the bullock,which was consequently replaced by the buffalo. Currently,those from the district who own milch animals mostly sell their milk to two organized dairies - Sarhag dairy and Mother dairy,which began operations on a large scale in late 2009. The process is of course much more profitable for farmers than selling milk in the open market like they once did. The positive effects of climate change and irrigation facilities set up by the government are also one of the main reasons for the increase in domestic animals because more water,through natural precipitation and human intervention,over the years have led to larger pasture land in the once desert district. Another interesting phenomenon in the region was the increase in sheep and goat populations between 1980 and 1990. The researchers employed by Gujarat Ecology Commission (GEC) attribute this to the frequent droughts during that decade,and linked it to the easy maintenance that sheep and goat command. The sheep now have a 6 lakh strong population providing almost seven-and-a-half tons of milk,official data shows. But Camel has declined in number,according to Wankar,who theorizes that it may be because the two main uses of a camel have since become redundant - wars are not being fought,and motor-vehicles are used for transport.
