Ejiao : In News
There has been a sudden surge in donkey prices in Pakistan due to China’s demand for ejiao.
- Ejiao is a gelatin used in traditional Chinese medicine, made by stewing and concentrating donkey skin.
- It is widely used in clinics for its biological advantages of being anti-fatigue, immunity-improving properties, for tumour suppression, and for its anti-anaemia effect.
- It is produced from the collagen extracted from donkey skin.
- The collagen is mixed with herbs and other ingredients to create bars, pills or liquids for consumable goods or beauty products.
- Between 2013 and 2016, the annual production of ejiao increased from 3,200 to 5,600 tonnes, a yearly growth of over 20%.
- China’s ejiao industry has witnessed a 160 per cent growth in the past five years, fuelling more demand for millions of donkey hides annually.
- Pakistan is only behind Ethiopia and Sudan in being home to the largest number of donkeys.
