AN ECONOMIC INTERVENTION OF USE OF INDIAN DROMEDARY CAMEL IN DESERT ECOSYSTEM

摘要

A meticulous grass root level survey study was conducted on various aspects of use of camel whichinvolved four different zones (north, south, east, west) of desert ecosystem. The statistically analysed datarevealed that average cost of camel cart was higher than those for farm implements. The average totalnumber of working days in a year was more in carting operation than farming use. The average loadcarrying by camel cart was 18.47 +- 3.71 quintal/trip: The camel carting required higher investment in termsof interest rate, depreciation rate and expenses towards insurance than farming use. The overall totalfixed cost was high in camel carting than farming use. The yearly repairing and maintenance cost of camelcart was high as compared to maintenance of implements. The total variable cost was high in farming usethan carting. The total expenditure for both cases was almost equal but total earning and profit from camelcarting was high as compared to farming use. The pay back period was less and cost benefit ratio washigh in both cases of carting and farming use of camel. The study concluded that due to short pay backperiod and higher cost-benefit ratio, carting and farming use of camel is profitable and advantageous forsmall dry land farmers in the hot arid desert ecosystem.