Western Producer reporter Mary MacArthur is criss-crossing India to put into context the noise, the smells and the human faces that make up the country, which is on a path to becoming one of western Canadian farmers’ best customers. In the weeks ahead, her stories will explore issues facing India’s agricultural sector and how Canada can find its place in what is one of the fastest growing markets in the world.
JAIPUR, India – The millions of cows, pigs, dogs and goats that wander the streets of India may be a traffic hazard, but they also act as unofficial garbage collectors.
Read Also
Europe holds promise for Canadian lentils
Pulse Canada is trying to help boost lentil consumption in Europe, which is already the fourth largest market.
With no organized garbage collection system, the animals have become an important part of keeping waste under control.
Animals wander the streets eating left-over food tossed on the side of the roads, in alleys or on vacant lots.
Even middle class Indian families toss garbage in the road because there are no garbage pick-up services.
India has more than 250 million cows, all sacred animals to the country’s Hindu majority. There are estimated to be 5,000 to 12,000 stray cattle In larger cities, all doing their part to clean the streets.
In Jaipur, a city a little larger than Calgary, thousands of pigs wander the streets searching for food in the piles of garbage. Residents accept the pigs as providing an essential service.
Some Jaipur residents have recently called for politicians to deal with nuisance dogs because of the worry of contracting rabies from dog bites. The World Health Organization estimates 20,000 people a year die in India from rabies.
However, city officials were reluctant to round up the dogs because of their role in waste disposal.
As well, residents use cattle manure left on city streets for fuel.
Dinner plate size disks of manure collected from the cattle can be seen drying in the sun in ditches or roof tops across the country.
Stray cattle also are a source of milk in illegal city dairies.
