Livestock
has been an important natural resource of the arid and semi-arid
districts of western Rajasthan
for centuries. These districts are
populated by a large number of
sheep, cattle, goats, buffaloes
and camels. Livestock rearing as
compared to settled agriculture
has relatively more
tolerance to the harsh
environmental harsh conditions and the erratic variations of rainfall and temperatures in
the arid zone. The resource base of the
arid regions imposes
limits on the
choices of diversification of
cropping patterns. These
conditions have proved more
feasible to maintain large herds of domestic
animals by moving them from one
place to another utilizing the seasonal abundance of
grazing resources in different parts of
the arid region. This has contributed to the growth of a
system of mixed farming which adjusts
better to the limits and potentials imposed by the natural resource base. Moreover rearing of livestock acts as a buffer against drought. Drought occurrence
has less effect on livestock production.
Various studies have revealed
that whereas agricultural production
falls to less than 10% of a normal year, livestock production is still over 50%
of that
of that of the normal year. Thus
it ensures stability of earnings against
seasonal variability of weather.
Main
Pastoral Communities in Thar:
Pastoral
Groups:
1. Sindhi Muslims
a. Samma
b. Sanad
c. Gajju
d. Bhia
e. Panno
f. Sithar
g. Somra
h. Mohr
i. Dhatis
j. Khudalis
2. Jaluka
3. Johya
4. Sameja
5. Balochs
6. Parihars
7. Pawars
8. Rajputs
Agro-
Livestock Keepers:
9. Jats
10. Bishnois
Carriers
and Breeders:
11. Rajputs (Gour, Rathore, Diama, Solanki,
Bhati)
12. Birm Bhats
13. Bagora Bhats
14
Maru Bhats
15. Kachhela Charans
16. Maru Charans
17. Lohannas (Camel Carriers)
18. Gawarias
19. Multani Muslims
20. Mular Brahmins
21. Dewasi Rabaris
Shepherds:
22. Ahir
23. Rabari / Raika
24. Ghosi
25. Gujars
Occupational
Castes who are shepherds and also rely on livestock produce:
1. Kassai (mutton sellers)
2. Khatik (wool shearers)
3. Regar
(leather tanners)
4. Nayak
(bones and hides)
5. Sansi
(bones, hides and leather)
6. Meghwal
7. Bhambi
8. Gurra
9. Sargara
10.
Kamaria
11.
Dabgar
12.
Rabdasis (leather workers)
13.
Satia (castrators)
Seasonal migration
of livestock herders
has been a
widely prevalent strategy of survival in the arid and semi arid regions of
western Rajasthan . This adaptive strategy has contributed to both inter
regional interaction between the tracts
of Western
Rajasthan as
well as with the neighboring areas
like Gujarat, M.P., U.P.,
Haryana, Punjab. According to migratory patterns and utilization of grazing
space the arid region of Rajasthan can be divided into two zones - the western
and the eastern. The western
portions
of these districts are characterized by the presence of largely
semi-nomadic and nomadic pastoralists. They rely mainly on
a localised migratory pasturages
well as
transhumant long distance migration.
On the other hand the pastoralists
in the
eastern zone rely mainly on long distance migrations which
are definite and follow
a particular cycle.
The long distance migratory are a more regular feature
of the sheep herders. The conservative
estimates of the Sheep & Wool Department testify to a
regular migration of
around 20% of them.
More realistic estimates would be
around 45% of the sheep breeders migrating
in a normal year and as high as 90% migrating in the recent years of drought.
The sheep breeders of the eastern districts like Pali and Nagore migrate
southwards to Madhya Pradesh, taking different routes through Kota and Jhalawar. Sheep from
parts of
Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Barmer and
Jalore migrate towards Gujarat.
Sheep breeders from Bikaner,
Sikar, Churu follow different migratory routes to
reach the irrigated tracts of
Punjab, Haryana, and eastern
Uttar Pradesh. Over the
last few decades
livestock migrations both
localised and long
distance take place
in conditions of distress which are increasing. These involve meting out
relations with the settled farmers who no longer need them so desperately, the
hostile settled population, negotiate
with the neighbouring states
on inter state dues and the
ever expanding control of the
Forest Department over large tracts of grasslands.
Livestock as a resource has multiple values in the society and economy of Western Rajasthan. The presence of
these animals in such
large numbers mediates economic relations, social ties and exchanges
between a range of upper and lower
social groups.
Livestock has
been regarded as wealth which
was exchanged as `gift'
on ceremonial occasions
like marriage as
well as transacted in the market. There are many livestock fairs
which spring up in different
places in Western Rajasthan. Fairs like Mallinath ka
Mela at Tilwara, Tejaji Ka Mela at
Parbatsar and fairs in
Kolayat, Gogamedi and Nagore have a
long history of being
sites for the exchange and transaction of animals.
These fairs are attended by not only local population of the
nearby villages and districts
but are attractions for traders
from Punjab, U.P., M.P., Haryana who have have been coming
to buy livestock from a long time. These fairs apart from
serving as sites for the
transaction of livestock are places where
exchange of news, customs, and even ways of life takes place. Even
in the cultural life
of people cattle, sheep and camels
occupy a prominent place.
Livestock Census 2012 of Rajasthan Click here
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