Role of camel milk in pastoral livelihoods in Kenya

Kenyan researchers have explored the potential of camel milk to alleviate food insecurity of pastoral communities in northern Kenya. They studied the contribution of camel milk to pastoral household food baskets and incomes in Isiolo County in the Upper Eastern Region. Their findings, published in 2015 in the article “Role of camel milk in pastoral livelihoods in Kenya: contribution to household diet and income”, showed that camel milk contributes significantly to the diet and income of pastoral households. The contribution of the milk to household diet was higher in the dry than the wet season. Camel milk sales contributed significantly to household incomes during both wet and dry seasons. Most camel milk sales are handled by women. The researchers concluded that rearing camels can provide an important supplement to livelihoods of pastoral household and called for investment in the camel milk subsector in both production and marketing. The open-access article appeared in the journal Pastoralism.

Posted on 12 July 2015 in Pastoralism & Marketing, Pastoralism, Gender & Youth, Pastoralist Livelihoods & Nutrition, Value of Pastoralism