The Camel Milk Industry in Kenya
Muli Musinga, David Kimenye, Peter Kivolonzi
Summary: Kenya has the fifth largest camel herd in the world estimated to number 1.06 million traditionally kept by the Somali, Rendille, Gabbra, and Turkana communities living in the country’s harshest arid and semi-arid lands of North and North-Eastern Kenya which are also ranked as the poorest parts of the country. Camel milk production in 2007 is estimated to have stood at over 340 million litres valued at over Ksh 8 billion at the farm level. This estimate makes the camel milk sub-sector much larger than cotton and pyrethrum sub-sectors put together, and only comparable to much bigger sub-sectors such as coffee. This is a potential that has already been recognized by a number of pastoral communities, and camels are now slowly spreading to other parts of the country – Laikipia, Samburu, Pokot, Kajiado, Narok and many other parts of Kenya.
In September 2008, the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) contracted a leading Kenyan development consulting company, Resource Mobilization Centre (RMC), to undertake a value chain analysis of the camel milk sub-sector in Kenya with a focus on milk originating from Isiolo District. The main purpose of the study was to explore the potential of camel milk from Isiolo District to access sustainable formal markets and, in so doing, establish whether the value chain presents a business case for investment by the private sector and development agencies interested in increased livelihoods of pastoral communities and other actors involved in the value chain. this information is expected to assist its Northern Kenya portfolio in making a decision on whether there is sufficient justification for its involvement in the camel milk sub-sector and, if so, the priority areas for intervention.
Type: Case Studies
Sector: Rural Development
Theoretical Approach: - N/A -
Region: Africa
Filename: SNV Camel Milk VCA - Final Report - November 2008.pdf (1116 K)
Downloaded: 1794 time(s)