Financial viability of range land based camel production system in arid region of gujarat

The study of characterisation and economics of range land based camel production system uses primary data of randomly selected 75 camel breeders’ households in Kachchh region of arid Gujarat. Range land based camel production system was the main occupation for more than 90 per cent of sample households with average herd size of 40 camels. Net returns per camel herd per year were found to be INR 62, 687 with B: C ratio of 1.52. The Range land based camel production system was found financially viable enterprise with a payback period of 6 years, positive Net Present Value (NPV), and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 41.31 per cent. Camel production is declining in Kachchh region mainly due to degrading range lands, alternate employment opportunities in newly established industries, and market factors, hence needs strategies for sustainable camel production.