Reviving Rajasthan’s Camel Herding Communities: Bahula Naturals’ Journey
Bringing Back Livelihoods
In 2015, a pivotal shift occurred in the lives of Rajasthan’s camel herders. The ban on camel slaughter and their export to other states left these pastoralists, who had long relied on camel herding for their livelihoods, struggling to make ends meet. The consequences were dire – camel prices plummeted from Rs 1 lakh to as low as Rs 4,000. Many households that once had 50 camels were left with none or just a couple. The state’s camel population saw a significant decline of 35% from 2012 to 2019. It was a crisis that needed a solution, and that solution came in the form of Bahula Naturals.
The Birth of Bahula Naturals
Aakriti Srivastava, a former journalist, embarked on a transformative journey to the heart of Rajasthan, near the India-Pakistan border in Bikaner district. It was here that she encountered the pastoralists, camel herders, sheep and goat rearers, and indigenous cow rearers who had been the custodians of the desert for generations. These communities, living in harsh conditions and extreme temperatures, had played a crucial role in enriching the desert soil through their pastoralism. But with the ban in 2015, their livelihoods were threatened, and they were forced to switch to daily wage jobs, abandoning their camels to a grim fate.
A Vision for Camel Conservation and Livelihoods
After five years of intensive research and collaboration with like-minded individuals, Aakriti co-founded Bahula Naturals in 2022, alongside Romal and Suraj Singh, whom she had met during her journalism assignment. Together, they set out to not only revive the livelihoods of camel herders but also promote camel conservation through sustainable practices.
The Path to a Net-Zero Dairy
Bahula Naturals’ ambitious goal is to establish India’s first net-zero dairy, working with 4,000 camel, sheep, and cow rearers across Bikaner, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, and Nagaur districts. The collected milk undergoes rigorous quality testing and is then stored in solar-powered instant milk chillers, ensuring the milk remains fresh even in extreme temperatures.
The logistics are challenging due to the scattered locations of the communities, but these innovations are making a significant difference. Delivery vans transport the milk to the dairy and milk processing units in Bajju village, from where a range of camel and cow milk-based products are distributed to 300 households across Bikaner, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai using a subscription model.
From Camels to Customers: A Product Line for All
Bahula Naturals offers a diverse product line that includes camel milk ghee, camel milk biscuits, camel milk feta cheese, camel milk Cheshire cheese, A2 cow bilona ghee, cold-pressed oils, and gluten-free black wheat flour. Their camel milk-based cheese has found its way into the kitchens of chefs in cities like Goa, Delhi, and Bengaluru.
Raising Awareness and Overcoming Challenges
One of the initial hurdles for the startup was raising awareness about camel milk products among Indian consumers. Aakriti emphasizes the nutritional value of these products, highlighting their benefits for individuals with diabetes, blood pressure issues, and cardiovascular diseases.
In just over a year, Bahula Naturals and the communities it supports have achieved remarkable success. They collectively generate an annual revenue of Rs 1 crore, with individual herders now earning up to Rs 12,000 a month, a stark contrast to the zero income they previously faced. The local camel market has also witnessed an upturn, with camel prices at the Pushkar mela rising to Rs 35,000.
Changing Lives at the Grassroots Level
The impact of Bahula Naturals goes beyond economic figures. Camel herders like Genaram Raika, who had struggled to make a living after the ban, now earn up to Rs 48,000 a month from their camels. The once-wasted camel milk now sustains families, providing a lifeline for these pastoralists.
Aakriti’s journey, from a journalism student assigned to document the lives of pastoralists to a changemaker at the heart of Rajasthan’s camel herding communities, exemplifies the power of innovation, determination, and compassion. Through Bahula Naturals, she not only addressed the issues she initially set out to highlight but also became a beacon of hope for a resilient community that refused to let their way of life fade away.
Bahula Naturals stands as a testament to the transformative potential of entrepreneurship and the ability to bring about positive change in the most challenging of circumstances. As the company continues to flourish, it not only secures livelihoods but also ensures the survival of Rajasthan’s majestic camels, preserving a vital part of the desert’s ecosystem for generations to come.
