Camels are uniquely suited to making productive use of desert and semi-desert environments, more so than any other livestock species
Ali Nawaz Rahimoo
In Pakistan, camels along with donkeys, horses and mules continue to play a vital role as draught and utility animals. In many extremely arid regions, where other livestock cannot survive, camels remain the only species capable of producing milk, meat, wool and hides. They are equally valued as pack animals, capable of carrying loads of up to 500 kg and pulling carts, making them an important source of renewable energy through draught power. In addition to these functions, camels contribute significantly to human food security through the provision of milk, meat and a variety of byproducts.
According to recent official data from Pakistan Economic Survey 2023–24, the current camel population in Pakistan is around 1.2 million. Despite this reduction, prospects remain favorable due to increasing demand from Afghanistan, where the collapse of the livestock sector after years of conflict has created a strong dependency on imported animals. Markets such as the weekly livestock fair in Cheek and, a small hamlet in the Mirpurkhas district of Sindh, have become active trading hubs from where camels are transported to the borders with Afghanistan and Iran.
In the Tharparkar desert, camels continue to hold deep cultural and economic significance and are regarded as symbols of wealth. A quality camel may cost around Rs.200000- 300000, and a recent survey has identified as many as 27 distinct camel breeds in the region.
Camels primarily consume thorny plants, dry grasses and saltbush essentially anything that grows in desert environments. Dromedary camels mainly browse, with shrubs and forbs making up nearly 69 % of their diet. They spend 9–11hours grazing and a similar amount of time ruminating. While feeding, camels disperse across large areas and pluck only a few leaves from each plant, reducing pressure on vegetation and minimizing competition with other herbivores in arid zones. Dromedaries also require six to eight times more salt than other livestock to aid water absorption and storage, making halophytic plants essential roughly one-third of their diet. They can browse at heights of up to 3.5 meters, breaking branches or stripping leaves in a single movement. Their specially adapted lips allow them to grasp even thorny plants, which they chew 40–50 times per bite.
Dromedary camels have a lifespan of 40–50 years. Both males and females are seasonal breeders, with mating typically occurring in winter, often coinciding with the rainy season. Gestation lasts around 15 months and usually results in a single calf, which can stand and move independently within its first day of life. Historically, the camel has always been valued for far more than transportation. On farms, it serves as an indispensable beast of burden, especially during harvest. It can carry loads of 300 kg over long distances and up to 400 kg over shorter ones. Camels also perform a variety of other tasks, including threshing grain, lifting water for irrigation, and powering traditional oil mills. They are used for riding as well. Despite this versatility, their contribution to rural economies remains overlooked in development policies.
Camels are uniquely suited to making productive use of desert and semi-desert environments, more so than any other livestock species. Although declining use for transport has contributed to reduced camel numbers in parts of Asia, the species continues to meet many essential human needs. There is significant potential for value addition to camel-derived products, and camels are widely sought as sacrificial animals in South Asia. Camel milk is highly valued in Central Asian countries, where it is consumed fresh or processed into cheeses and even distilled into vodka. In regions such as Kazakhstan, it is also used therapeutically for ailments including tuberculosis and dropsy. Camel wool is another prized product. Moreover, camels continue to offer cost-effective agricultural support where mechanization is too expensive, particularly given fluctuating fuel prices. Camel milk rich in vitamin C can be transformed into cheese, ice-cream, chocolate and other nutritious products. Camel hides are used in footwear manufacture, while camel wool forms the raw material for sacks, blankets, clothing, ropes, tents and carpets.
Read: The Thirsty Desert of Sindh
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Ali Nawaz Rahimoo, based in Umerkot, Sindh is a social development professional. He can be contacted on anrahimoo@gmail.com
