The Hindu : Front Page : Now drink daily to your health: camel’s milk….

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 09, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

Now drink daily to your health: camel’s milk….

Special Correspondent

JAIPUR: The good old ship of the desert is soon going to be the milk van of the desert with Rajasthan taking up the marketing of camel milk.

The Rajasthan Dairy Cooperative Federation has made a new beginning towards marketing camel milk, considered a health food and a cure for diabetes. The camel milk in raw form is now made available in pouches and as value added products such as flavoured milk, kulfi and ice-cream in Bikaner.

The Federation is happy about the current sale of a hundred litres of camel milk daily. It might be a small step for a milk federation which procures 18 lakh litres of cow and buffalo milk from Rajasthan’s cattle breeders daily through its 9,000-odd dairy cooperatives, yet it is a breakthrough as until now procurement of camel milk from breeders and its commercial marketing had been considered a difficult proposition.

Cheese and paneer

“The Federation will soon introduce new products based on camel milk such as cheese and paneer. The products would be made available in other towns of Rajasthan and in Delhi,” said Federation project officer P. S. Kalra on the sidelines of an international conference here on “The Camel in Rajasthan” organised by the Lokhit Pashu-Palak Sansthan.

The Federation is selling camel milk at Rs.16 per litre after procuring raw milk at Rs.8-9 per litre. The milk is sold raw, as pasteurization would destroy the properties which bring down sugar levels. However, the milk is treated to ultra-violet rays prior to its sale. Camel milk is rich in Vitamin C and its insulin content is said to be high. It is beneficial for those with lactose intolerance and has low and beneficial fat.

“Enquiries are pouring in from various parts of India on the availability of camel milk. The camel breeders tell us that their animals are too wild for milking. However what we notice is that once the she-camels get adjusted to the practice of milking, they start liking it,” says Ilse Kohler Rollefson, one of the founders of the Sansthan.

“In Jaisalmer we are trying to carry out door-to-door sale of camel milk,” she informed.

Rajasthan accounts for 70 per cent of India’s camel population but “Oontni’s doodh” (camel milk) has never been considered a commercial item as the main purpose of rearing these sturdy animals has been their use as draught animals. The camel breeders, who have now overcome their inhibition about selling camel milk -- a taboo until recently, say that they can ensure a steady supply.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page