In the Thar Desert, ker (Capparis decidua) is more than food: its dry berries are a lifeline for women who pick, dry, and sell them, often earning ₹10-15,000 annually, and sometimes much more. The plant thrives in brutal conditions intense heat, minimal rainfall and grows wild on farm boundaries, forests, pastures and wasteland.

But ker’s durability doesn’t make it immune. Several pressures are building: expansion of irrigated agriculture increases soil moisture and causes root rot; farmland fencing and removal of bunds reduce ker’s wild habitat; climate shifts and unexpected rains hurt flowering and yield; and infrastructure development, invasive species like babul, and growing populations are encroaching on its space.

Efforts are underway: Self-help groups are experimenting with value-added products (chutneys, powders, chocolates), plans for GI (Geographical Indication) tags are in motion, and institutes are trialing nursery methods (e.g. root trainers, PVC-root protection) to grow ker in controlled ways. 

However, experts warn that ker has been largely neglected by formal research institutions, and more systematic study and conservation are needed if this desert berry a cultural, ecological and economic resource is to survive the changing landscape of Thar.