From next winter,camel milk to be available at state’s dairy outlets

Consequently,the numbers of this animal have dwindled in last few decades. In fact,the Kharai breed of camel,which can survive in the most hostile climates of sand and marshlands,has been reduced to a population of around 2,000,says Bhikhabhai Rabari,president of Kutch Unt Uchherak Maldhari Sangadhan (KUUMS),an organisation of camel breeders of the district.

However,KUUMS,Sharad Dairy,state government and NGOs working in the district have joined hands to turn the situation around by recognising camel as a milch animal. Sharad Dairy has 551 village milk cooperatives and it has agreed to collect camel milk from these centres.

“The existing milk collection system can handle camel milk also and if any modifications are needed,we shall effect them. We are building a one-lakh-litre-per-day capacity milk processing and packaging plant. While the technology of processing cow milk can also process camel milk,we shall change its design accordingly in case we need any separate facility,” Valamji Humbal,president of Sharad Dairy said.

Humbal said they were expecting to start camel milk collection from winter onwards. “While procuring and processing of camel milk will be our responsibility,its marketing and sale will be done by Gujarat Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF),” the president said adding,it was possible to prepare all products from camel milk otherwise made from milk of cow or buffaloes.