Credits: BiovisionFoundation and CHR HANSEN LABORATORIES
(c) Anne Bruntse, Biovision
Importance of Camels in ASAL
As climate change becomes more and more pronounced, the benefit of keeping camels in ASAL areas is becoming more and more obvious. Camels have a range of advantages over other livestock in dry areas as:
- camels can sustain long periods without water,
- camels can travel long distances making them able to use forage far from water points where other livestock cannot reach,
- camels can produce much more milk than other livestock under ASAL conditions,
- camels browse on trees so do not compete with cattle and small stock.
Importance of Camel Milk
Camel milk plays a vital role in household food security, prevention of malnutrition and acts as a source of cash to camel keepers and traders. However there are major restrains in marketing – particularly hygiene issues. Among the factors that contribute to poor hygienic standards of the milk in the ASAL are scarcity of water, traditional ways of milking, high temperatures, dusty environments and inadequate knowledge on clean milk production and handling.
The users/consumers of marketed camel milk is so far the growing urban population, both in Eastleigh and Garissa, with the Garissa market now consuming far the largest share of camel milk. And consumers are quite particular as to the quality of milk they prefer to consume. Informally marketed milk musthave mostofthe same qualities as formally marketed milk, such as a good taste, cleanliness and reliability of this quality. The price seems to matter much less, as consumers will buy expensive long life milk if the informally marketed milk is not of good enough quality.
Camel milk has the following advantages to other kinds of milk:
Under the same climatic conditions, camel milk yield potential is far higher than cows. The Bos indicus cattle able to survive in ASAL areas give 3–4 L milk/each daily under favourable conditions right after the rains, whereas good camels under favourable conditions can reach a milk yield of 15–20 L/day.
Whereas cows stop producing milk during droughts, camels continue producing forprolonged periods, provided they have access to enough browse.
Camel milk has different properties from that of cows. It is more heat resistant, giving it a longer shelf life even during extreme transport conditions
Camel milk is also perceived as a food that heals and sustains life, so is a highly priced commodity, fetching better prices than any other kind of milk.
The following health benefits have been reported in literature, some of it confirmed by medical studies, but far more research is needed. Camel milk properties as reported:
- Consumption of ½ L camel milk per day will reduce the insulin needs in patients with Diabetes Type I by 30% or more. Some patients are reported to have become symptom free after constant daily intake of camel milk (Agrawal etal., 2005).
- Camel milk has positive effects in controlling high blood pressure.
- Camel milk helps in the management of Arteriosclerosis and Osteoporosis.
- Camel milk has been shown to have potent anti-bacterial and anti-viral factors. Clinical trials shows that patients with infectious diseases (Tuberculosis) has a significantly higher recovery rate if they consume camel milk.
- Camel milk has 3 times the content of Vitamin C compared to cow milk (see table below).
- Camel milk does not produce lactose intolerance in people as far as known (Restani etal.,1999)
- Camel milk should be beneficial for autistic children (Sima Ash
2013).
Economic importance of camel milk
According to extrapolated figures from the Kenya Camel Association, the annual value of dryland camel milk production (2012) is in the region of Ksh 32 billion (based on a market price of Ksh 60 per litre). Part of this production is consumed locally and part of it is marketed through informal channels, with producers receiving the Ksh 30+ and another Ksh 30+ being netted by the substantial marketing chain. Figures on how big a part is marketed annually in Kenya are not available.
Consumer preference and public health concerns
As evidenced in the interim study report (2008): Consumption patterns, Marketing Channels and Consumer Demand for Camel milk and meat in Kenya, consumers rate milk as per the following criteria:
It is thus very clear that quality parameters rate much higher than price concerns for the consumers. Whether milk is packed or not is also less important than freshness, but fear of adulteration will deter some customers from buying informally marketed milk. So in the absence of proof of non-adulteration only personal relationships between sales person and customer – mainly the level of trust that can be built – will determine the level of sales from the informal sector. Price is evidently a more important issue in Eastleigh than in Garissa.
Public Health concerns concerning the informal milk trade include the prevention of the spread of communicable diseases as described in the chapter on Good Milk Quality/Healthy milk.
During the study of marketing, processing and value adding of camel milk and meat products in the ASAL region of Kenya which concentrated on the Garissa market, as there were other projects starting up in both Isiolo and Wajir. During the course of the study a great need was identified for training manuals on hygiene in informal camel milk marketing, as a huge and increasing demand for safe camel and other milk was identified. Camel milk is fetching highest prices of any milk, and all camel milk is marketed in an informal manner by women with mostly inadequate knowledge on hygienic milk handling. Towards the end of the study and due to training traders on proper milk handling the camel milk market in Garissa had expanded manifold, and an increased interest in producing camel milk for commercial purposes was emerging, as Garissa seems to be able to consume rather enormous amounts of milk provided it is marketed in a hygienic manner. Garissa has during the study stopped exporting milk to Nairobi and is now consuming milk from a much larger upland than ever before.