Marketing camels & milk in northern Kenya

A study was made of an emerging peri-urban camel production system in northern Kenya to answer two questions: i) to what extent are camel keepers involved in trading of camels and milk; and ii) to what extent do milk hygiene practices respond to market demands? The findings were published in the article “Assessment of camel and camel milk marketing practices in an emerging peri-urban production system in Isiolo County, Kenya” in Pastoralism: Research, Policy and Practice (2013, 3:28). In the study area, most of the camels are kept by Somali pastoralists but some Borana are now also going into camel production. Compared to the highly mobile traditional camel production system, the peri-urban system showed greater market integration and over twice as many steers being sold and breeding heifers being bought. Recommendations are made about organisation of animal and milk marketing and adding value to milk so that camel-keepers can earn more from their herds and so that safer food products can be made available to urban consumers. The study gives no attention to gender issues related to trading in camels and camel milk.

Posted on 2 August 2015 in Pastoralism & Marketing