JAISALMER, RAJASTHAN — A perfect symbol of the arid Thar Desert, the ker berry (Capparis decidua) a vital part of local cuisine and a key source of income for rural women is facing a serious threat from changes in agriculture, rising water usage, and erratic weather patterns.
Once found in abundance across farm boundaries and barren lands, the ker bush, which can survive temperatures up to 50 and minimal rainfall, is showing signs of decline. This reduction is directly impacting the livelihoods of thousands of women who depend on harvesting the thorny fruit.
A Desert Delicacy and Economic Lifeline
The ker berry along with sangri and kumtia, is a staple in the arid climate where fresh vegetables are scarce. Historically, the income generated from ker harvesting has been a significant boost for families.
Ganga Devi a 70-year-old resident of Melba village, recalls using her earnings from ker sales to purchase gold ornaments. While she used to sell the berries for just ₹2 per kg, the price of dried ker has now skyrocketed to between ₹1,000 and ₹3,000 per kg, driven by reduced availability.
Women and girls are primarily involved in plucking, boiling, and drying the berries, often earning between ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 annually. This income is crucial for women with limited other livelihood options.
Efforts are now underway by women self-help groups, supported by the Department of Science and Technology, to increase the value of ker. They are creating value-added products like berry chocolates, powder, digestive tablets, and chutney, aiming to empower women economically by eliminating intermediary agents.
Drivers of Decline
Experts point to multiple factors causing the ker disappearance:
• Agricultural Modernisation and Water Use: The increased use of canals and tube wells has allowed farmers to cultivate fields twice a year, raising soil moisture. This excessive moisture, however, causes the roots of the naturally drought-resistant ker to rot. Farmers are also removing ker bushes from field boundaries to maximise open land and prevent animals like wild boars from settling in the thickets.
• Climate and Rainfall: Traditional knowledge holds that higher rainfall leads to a lower ker yield. The good rainfall in Rajasthan over the last two to three years has been cited as a reason for the decreasing output. Furthermore, unseasonal weather, like the storms and cold in April this year, caused the ker flowers to fall, leading to a poorer harvest and a corresponding jump in market prices.
• Invasive Species and Neglect: Some locals blame the faster-growing exotic babul for crowding out native trees. Scientists also note that ker has been a “victim of neglect”, with insufficient research being conducted by major institutions to understand its biology and preservation. Attempts to grow it in controlled environments have largely failed, though new root-protection techniques offer a ray of hope.
• Population Pressure: The Thar region saw the highest population increase among major global deserts between 2000-2020, leading to the expansion of croplands and urban areas, further fragmenting the land where ker naturally grows in clusters.
Recognising its cultural and economic importance, a push is underway by the Rajasthan Ker Production and Processing Development Society to secure a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for the fruit hoping to protect the region unique desert specialty.