ICAR-NRCC Celebrates its 40th Foundation Day

5th July 2023, Bikaner

The ICAR-National Research Center on Camel, Bikaner celebrated its 40th Foundation Day here today.

To mark the occasion a Farmer-Scientist-Stakeholder Meet on 'Entrepreneurial Opportunities in Camel Dairy and Ecotourism' was organized. Scientists and academicians from ICAR institutes at Bikaner and RAJUVAS attended the function.

The Chief Guest, Dr. K. M. L. Pathak, former Deputy Director General (Animal Science) & VC DUVASU- said that camel milk is useful for human health; camel rearers should adopt it as a milk business to promote it. He stressed the need to strengthen rangelands as a feed resource for camels and educate the masses about misconceptions, and human health benefits of camel milk, and urged the youth to take up camel-based entrepreneurship avenues.

Dr. AK Tomar, Director ICAR-CSWRI referred to the value-added milk products developed in NRCC and said that camel rearers should increase their income by adopting this as a business. He encouraged the farmers to innovate, adopt new techniques, and do mixed animal husbandry.

Shri GS Bhati, Executive Director, Central Wool Development Board, Jodhpur stressed the need to utilize camel wool for product making to add to their income.

Dr. Naveen Mishra, Rajasthan State Animal Husbandry Department said that owing to the utility of camel milk for various human ailments, Rajasthan state has started a scheme to provide financial assistance to the camel herders.

Dr. Artabandhu Sahoo, Director, ICAR-NRCC briefed about the achievements and developments during the last 40 years of existence of the center. He said camel need to be reared for milk as a source of livelihood, apart from it, the use of its other by-products has economic potential like wool, leather and tourism. Dr. Sahoo also spoke about the opportunities for entrepreneurship related to camel.

NGO’s/ Entrepreneurs and Farmers from different states of India including from far-reaching Tamil Nadu dealing with the procurement and marketing of camel milk attended and interacted.

‘Freeze dried Camel Milk Powder’ was released for sale from NRCC and an extension bulletin on ‘Oonton Ke Saath Maanviye Vyavhaar’ was also released.

(Source: ICAR-National Research Center on Camel, Bikaner)