Pushkar, November 16, 2024.
Pushkar’s iconic annual cattle fair has undergone a remarkable transformation. Once synonymous with the sale of camels and bovines, the fair this year witnessed a surge in the sale of Marwadi and Kathiawadi horses, overshadowing traditional livestock sales. The event, which concluded on Friday, saw sale of animals worth an estimated Rs 11.5 crore, with horses dominating the market.
According to animal husbandry department, only 274 camels, collectively worth Rs 76 lakh, were sold this year, all within Rajasthan.
“Bulls are no longer in trend since they are not used for agricultural purposes with the availability of advanced tractors and other equipment. Also, it is unsafe to purchase cows or buffaloes from such fairs due to the risk of attacks on vehicles transporting them. We prefer buying them from local markets,” said Ramaram Devasi, a cattle farmer from Raniwara area in Jalore.
The data confirmed the waning interest in bovines, with not a single buffalo or cow sold at this year’s fair.
In stark contrast, the sale of Marwadi horses reached new heights. A total of 883 horses, including a few Kathiawadi breeds, were sold, generating nearly Rs10.3 crore. Buyers like Ashu Singh Shekhawat from Jhunjhunu expressed satisfaction with their purchases.
