Assessing Camel Production Potentials and Possibilities of Ranching System in Gedarif State Using Geographic Information System (GIS)

Abstract

This study was carried out in Gedarif State, (November 2006 to February 2007) to evaluate camel production potentials and availability of natural resources that help to locate optimum places for camel ranches, using the facilities of Geographic Information System (GIS). The methods used in the study were questionnaires in two sample groups, of 25 camel owners in the largest two camel markets (El Showak and Gedarif market). and the second group of 25 consumers in Gedarif University. Visits were made to El Showak and Gedarif camel markets, El Showak Camel Research Center, Gedarif University, Gedarif Pastoralists Union, Gedarif slaughter house, Finance Ministry – Herd Administration and Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources. Data were collected from the Web to make maps and satellite images of Gedarif State, to record the rain fall estimation (RFE), Topography and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were data analysed by GIS software (Arc GIS 9.1) for five years, from 2000 to 2004. The results of the study showed that 100% of the herds were from inside Gedarif State. 60% of the owners and pastoralists indicated that numbers of camels in the market were increasing, 24% indicated decreasing and 16% stated fixed numbers. All the owners sold their camels to buy food and water, and not for culling or renewing. VIII For camel purchasing, 48% of the owners voted for riding, 36% for packing and 16% for racing purposes. As for fattening camels before slaughter, 12% stated all times, 40% sometimes and 48% no fattening. More than 98% of the camel owners indicated absence of proper camel farming practices in Gedarif State against 2%. The study showed that 100% of camel feeding always depended on agricultural by-products after the rainy season. As for the availability of water in the dry seasons, 72%, 20% and 8% indicated rare, available all times and seasonal, respectively. 84% of the randomly selected sample of camel owners supported making ranch farms in Gedarif State and 16% disagreed. From the consumer sample 80% indicated eating camel meat when it was available in meat markets and 20% when it was cheaper than other kinds of meat. 88% of the producers gave above 10 pound of milk for a she-camel; 56% of the sample used it for therapy and 32% for nutrition. However, 68% of the study sample indicated weak marketing and 80% of the consumers pointed that camel milk had no influence on milk marketing. The study indicated potentiality for establishing camel ranching in Gedarif State as is indicated by the GIS techniques