The Camel's Enduring Presence In Afghanistan's Landscape And Culture

Afghanistan is home to a variety of wildlife, including camels. Camels are large even-toed ungulates, native to the dry and desert areas of Asia and northern Africa. There are two species of camels: the Dromedary (single hump) and the Bactrian Camel (double hump). Both species are used for milk, meat, and as beasts of burden. In Afghanistan, camels are used for sesame oil production in the north of the country.

Camels are used to produce sesame oil in Afghanistan

Afghanistan is home to diverse wildlife, and camels are among the animals found in this country. Camels are used for various purposes, including milk, meat, and transportation of goods. In northern Afghanistan, camels are also used to produce sesame oil.

Sesame oil is derived from sesame seeds, which are cleaned, dried, and then crushed or pressed to release their oil. This process can be done using manual techniques or chemical extraction methods. In Afghanistan, the traditional method of producing sesame oil involves using camel power to extract the oil from the seeds.

In Mazar-i-Sharif, a city in northern Afghanistan, there are around 35 producers of sesame oil who use camel power. The process involves two camels taking turns walking in circles in a cramped space. The camels carry a pack on their shoulders that support a mast driving a wooden press. Each camel works for about 10 hours a day and is then resold after 18 months.

The sesame seeds used for oil production in Afghanistan are grown in the fertile soil of Balkh province, which borders Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The seeds are pressed by camel power, and the resulting oil is used for cooking, medicine, and skincare. Sesame oil is believed to have various health benefits and is considered a stable and resistant oil.

The traditional method of producing sesame oil in Afghanistan is facing competition from more efficient industrial presses. However, the camel-pressed oil is preferred by some customers who believe it to be organic, healthier, and sweeter. The modest trade of sesame oil provides a livelihood for about 50 producers in Balkh province.

There are two species of camels: Dromedary and Bactrian

There are two species of camels: the Dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) and the Bactrian (Camelus bactrianus). The Dromedary, also known as the Arabian camel, has one hump, while the Bactrian has two humps. Dromedary camels are domesticated and make up about 90% of the world's camel population. Bactrian camels can be either wild or domesticated, with the wild Bactrian camel being a distinct species from its domesticated counterpart.

Dromedary camels are native to northern Africa, the Middle East, and western Asia. Bactrian camels are native to inner, central, and east Asia, including China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, northern areas of Iran, India, Pakistan, and eastern Turkey.

Both species have been domesticated for thousands of years and are used for travel, food, textiles, and labour. They are well-adapted to life in the desert, with various features that protect their eyes and noses from sand. They can also go for long periods without food or water, making them ideal for traversing arid climates.

The Dromedary grows to a height of 5.9 to 6.6 feet (1.8 to 2 meters) at the shoulder and weighs between 880 and 1,320 pounds (400 to 600 kilograms). The Bactrian camel is larger, growing to a height of 5.2 to 5.9 feet (1.6 to 1.8 meters) at the shoulder and weighing between 990 and 1,100 pounds (450 to 500 kilograms).

Bactrian camels are found in Afghanistan

Bactrian camels, characterised by their double humps, are native to the dry and desert areas of Central Asia. They are found in Afghanistan, as well as in small numbers in Iran, Turkey, and Russia. Bactrian camels were once widespread, but their range has diminished significantly over time.

In Afghanistan, these camels are mostly domesticated, with an estimated population of 1.4 million animals worldwide. They are highly adapted to survive in arid environments, storing water in their blood rather than their humps, which are reservoirs of fatty tissue. This adaptation allows them to go for several days without water or food. Bactrian camels are used for milk, meat, and as beasts of burden, contributing significantly to the livelihoods of many Afghans.

In northern Afghanistan, for example, ethnic Turkmen employ Bactrian camels in the traditional industry of sesame oil production. Camels are used to power presses that extract sesame oil, with two camels taking turns walking in circles to drive the wooden press. This method of oil extraction is preferred by some over industrial presses, as it produces oil that is believed to be "totally organic, healthier, and sweeter."

The presence of Bactrian camels in Afghanistan is not limited to rural or traditional contexts. In cities like Kandahar and Kabul, camels are a familiar sight, grazing by the airport road or alongside rivers.

Camels are used as beasts of burden

Afghanistan is home to diverse wildlife, including camels. Camels are domesticated animals that have been used as beasts of burden for thousands of years. They are well-suited to arid regions and can go for long periods without food and water, making them ideal for traversing vast desert distances.

Camels are strong and can carry heavy loads. A camel can carry over 600 pounds (270 kg) for 60-70 miles (95-110 km) and travel for 8-10 hours while pulling a two-wheeled cart with 2650 pounds (1200 kg) of cargo. They can also plow as much as a pair of donkeys or oxen.

Historically, camels have been used to transport goods such as silk, spices, textiles, gold, bronze, books, medicines, ceramics, and furniture along the Silk Road, a 5,000-mile trade route connecting China and the Far East with the Middle East and Europe. Camels were also used in medieval Persia and during World War I and World War II to carry ammunition, food, water, and medical supplies.

In northern Afghanistan, camels are used to extract sesame oil using a traditional method. Two camels take turns walking in circles for a few hours at a time, with a pack on their shoulders supporting a mast that drives a wooden press. This method of oil extraction is said to produce healthier and sweeter oil than industrial presses.

Camels are used for their milk and meat

Milk

Camels have been a source of milk for thousands of years, particularly for nomadic cultures in harsh, desert environments. Camel milk is often the most important camel product and is the staple food of nomads. When nomads move in search of pasture, they can survive for up to a month in the desert on nothing but camel milk. Camels can produce more milk from poor feed than any other dairy species.

Camel milk is rich in nutrients, including vitamin C, B vitamins, calcium, iron, and potassium. It has a similar nutritional composition to cow's milk but provides less saturated fat and more unsaturated fat. It is also easier to digest than cow's milk and has been used to treat diarrhoea.

Camel milk is also a good alternative for those with lactose intolerance or milk allergies. It contains less lactose than cow's milk and has a different protein profile.

Meat

Camel meat is also a valuable source of nutrition. Camels can survive and produce meat in arid zones where other animals cannot. They are also used for transport and labour.

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