Not many camels participate in the fair now
PUSHKAR: The Pushkar Fair, known as the centre stage for camel trading, is losing its charm among traders, resulting in a fall in the number of these animals — also commonly called desert ships — during the international fair each year.
Dr Dixit of the animal husbandry department said, “In the year 2010, the number of camels were 9,419, while there were only 8,238 and 6,953 camels in 2011 and 2012 respectively. This year, the number of camels that reached Pushkar for trading was only 4,772 while last year it was 5,170.”
“Urbanisation in agricultural fields as well as in means of transportation in deserts is the reason behind the decrease of camel trading in Pushkar fair.”
Hanuwant Singh Rathore of Lokhit Pashupalak Sansthan, working for the welfare of camels in the state said, “Government has declared the camel as the state animal but the arrangements made for camel traders during the fair are inadequate.”
An official of the animal husbandry department, on condition of anonymity told HT, “This number of camels will further decrease in due course of time if the government does not take responsibility to help the camel owners during the fair.”
“Even though the dairy department provides fodder on cost to cost basis but this fodder is useless for camel as they eat different food. The camel traders spend ` 300-400 to feed one camel per day.”
Further he said, “For tourism purposes, camel traders are forced to stay at the fair after completing their trading as for foreign tourists, camels are the main attraction.
Dr Kuldeep Agarwal, veterinary officer and cultural program chief of fair told HT, “The budget provided by the government for the fair is very less.”