Camel milk production & marketing in Afar, Ethiopia

Camels produce more milk for a longer period of time than any other milk animal held under the same harsh conditions. The milk is a primary source of some pastoralists’ food, nutrition and income. The article “Camel milk production and marketing: pastoral areas of Afar, Ethiopia“ by Belets Gebremichael et al (published in Pastoralism: Research, Policy and Practice 2019 9:16) reports on a 2017 survey of 100 camel herders, nine camel traders and three cooperatives in Afar Region, Ethiopia.

The study revealed that 57% of the camels were lactating. Milking was done by men 2–3 times per day with an average of 4.2 l per camel per day. Milk was sold by 82% of the camel herders, mainly women, who sold an average of 14.3 l milk per day at an average price of USD 0.95/litre. Middle(wo)men sold an average of 35.8 l per day at USD 1.22/litre. The milk was sold in small plastic pots or jerrycans at the herders’ farmgate (18%), on roadsides (59%) and in nearby towns (23%). About 70% of the milk was sold directly to end consumers. The milk sellers perceived that the milk they sold met the nutritional, medicinal, social and economic needs of the consumers. The authors call for development interventions focussed on exploiting opportunities and addressing challenges in camel milk production and marketing, and promoting camel milk consumption.

Posted on 23 December 2019 in Pastoralism & Marketing