Raika Pastoralists of the Thur Desert (Rajasthan – India)

Outstanding Features

The Raikas are a pastoral caste believing in divine intervention by Lord Shiva, who herd camels, goats and sheep. Camel herding has been their heritage. They live in groups of 4-20 families on the outskirts of villages and combine crop production (e.g. wheat, maize, sorghum, lentils) during the summer rains with pastoralism during the autumn-spring dry season. Raikas live with small herds (about 100 animals) with a rich variety of breeds; and are mostly non-migratory. They select animal breeds to be hardy for the harsh climate (temperature and moisture extremes, low forage, disease resistance, and endurance), and are known for 11 ‘Bikaneri' sheep breeds. Young animals are selected for breeding stock, used for 3-4 years, and rarely sold, with ownership changing within circumscribed social networks during life-cycle rituals (births, circumcision, marriages, etc.). Raikas memorize pedigrees of their animals over 7-8 generations, emphasizing female lines. Sheep provide high quality dung besides milk, wool and meat; while goats are more resistant to diseases, useful to wet-nurse lambs, and fetch a higher price. Seasonal and life-cycle events determine pastoralist-animal interactions and rituals. Men undertake most of the herding and feeding of the stock, while women tend to young and sick animals, and do the milking, milk processing, weaving, and felting of fleece.

Goods and Services Provided

The Raikas are dependent on common grazing lands (village commons, temple grounds, waste lands, fallow lands) to herd their animals 2-7 km/day. The animals provide them with milk for domestic consumption, hides, wool for carpets, meat, lambs for sale and fattening, and dung.

Threats and Challenges

The Raikas face several threats: (a) Camel herding is no longer profitable. (b) Government cross-breeding programmes for small livestock threaten the survival of local breeds, and have not been successful. (c) Droughts force the Raikas to sell their livestock to investors resulting in a mixing of different breeds. (d) Decrease in common pasture lands force the Raikas to sell breeds to rich land owners. (e) Small livestock (sheep, goats) experience high mortality due to disease and fodder scarcity. (f) Customary common lands are being privatised or closed for tree planting by village Panchayats. (g) Middlemen control the purchase of produce (wool, meat, dung, etc.) from the Raikas.

Policy and Development Relevance

There is a need to assess the policy implications of land use changes and grazing restrictions on the loss of local breeds and large livestock, on the impacts of small livestock, on desertification, and on the adaptation of local communities to droughts and climate extremes.

Global Importance

Traditionally, Raikas have been guardians of agro-biodiversity, developing a variety of indigenous breeds for harsh climatic conditions and maintaining them with restricted social groups. Their traditional knowledge of pedigree lineages of animals over 7-8 generations is invaluable.