Farmers and traders of camel milk are pushing for the product to be included in the Dairy Industry Act, citing an under-tapped gem that is still unregulated.
As of 2014, data showed that Kenya was the second highest producer of camel milk in the world, with an approximated annual production of 0.94 million litres per annum, and a value projection of approximately $34 million.
Furthermore, Kenya and Somalia alone produce over 60% of the world’s camel milk.
According to Garissa County Agriculture, Livestock and Co-operatives CEC, Mohamed Shale, the inclusion of camel milk as a key product serves to bring the following advantages:
- Organized market chain and production
- Improved nutrition
- Reduction of hazards in milk and dairy products
- Facilitate planning, organization and decision making for the value chain actors for the sustainability of the industry.
Currently, Garissa County alone’s annual production stands at about 70 to 90 million litres. However, most of this is only hawked, seeing that there is no formal regulation by the government.
Despite all the prospects that can be achieved, little has been done for the particular, and maybe the only hope lies in the inclusion, which will encourage fair competition with other types of milk.
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