Try this mini riddle.
If a Camel is the ship of the desert what is a Camul?
The answer: C-amul is the dairy van of the desert!

Or at least it would one day be, when the Rajasthan Dairy Cooperative Federation
succeeds in replicating the Amul success story in the desert state.

The Rajasthan Dairy Cooperative Federation has made a new beginning towards marketing camel milk, considered a health food and a cure for diabetes. The camel milk in raw form is now made available in pouches and as value added products such as flavoured milk, kulfi and ice-cream in Bikaner. They are currently working to bring out camel milk paneer and cheese.

Camels' milk is latest super food to hit the shelves of health food shops and upmarket retailers in the West. This follows recent research findings that the milk is rich in vitamins B and C and has 10 times more iron than cow's milk. Camel’s milk also has lower saturated fat than cow’s milk. It has properties that are considered a health food for the diabetics. In addition, the milk has high mineral and multi-vitamin content.

Research has also suggested that antibodies in camels' milk can help fight diseases like cancer, HIV/Aids Alzheimer's and hepatitis C. It is also beneficial for those with lactose intolerance.

The UN's food arm, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), is so convinced of the health potential in camel’s milk that it wants producers in countries from Mauritania to Kazakhstan to start selling camels' milk to the West.
But there are some humps to be crossed before the camel’s milk can be allocated a permanent place on the supermarket shelves.

One problem lies in the milk itself. It has so far not proved to be compatible with the UHT (Ultra High Temperature) treatment needed to make it long-lasting. Presently the milk is sold raw, as
pasteurization is seen to destroy the properties which bring down sugar levels. It has a slightly salty taste and not many people will like it. One needs to develop a taste for it.

Another major problem is that the camel owners are largely nomads. Since they move from place to place they cannot guarantee continuous supply to the dairy. As of now the milk is costlier than cow’s milk but experts feel that by improving the feed, agriculture and veterinary care, the milk yield can be improved.

Camel milk isn’t just a wonder food. It also works wonders from the outside. Researchers at the National Research Centre on Camel (NRCC) in the eastern Rajasthan district of Bikaner say they have developed an anti-wrinkle cream from camel milk.

The cream has been tested on a number of people and researchers have found that it not only helps in controlling wrinkles but also gives a glow to the skin.

There are six types of fatty acids found in camel milk, including lanolic acid, which is effective in controlling wrinkles as well as improving skin tone.

Researchers at the centre said they had encountered several problems in the initial phase of development of the cream like how to ensure that it was suitable for long-term use, had a nice fragrance and did not develop fungus.
The cream would be launched in the market only after satisfactory results were obtained from the trials.
Now you know why camels walk with their nose up in the air!