Camel milk is not just a superfood according to food experts but it has also been hailed as the ‘white liquid gold’ of our time.
Experts claim that camel milk has Vitamin C content that is three times higher than that of cow milk and thus it becomes valuable food for those whose access to a balanced diet is limited. The milk is also highly recommended for diabetics and those allergic to dairy, among other diseases.
Claims that the milk can be used as an aphrodisiac are also rife.
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To increase ways and options on how this superfood can be consumed, experts are converting its traditional form of consumption through smoking or boiling to being pasteurized or powdering it.
But is this effort worth it?
Reports indicate that the demand for camel milk will almost double from the US$5.64 billion recorded globally in 2018 to more than US$8 Billion by 2024.
Globally, camel milk is significantly more expensive in comparison to cow milk, owing to the twin factors of camel milk production being lower than cow milk and camel breeding costs which are also higher than that of cows.
Camel milk can be marketed raw but can also be value-added through pasteurization, flavouring, making camel milk cheese, yoghurt, laban, ghee, ice cream, powder and infant formula among others.
East Africa is already trailblazing the consumption of camel milk in Africa with Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea and Sudan consuming the highest quantity of camel milk per capita on the continent.
On World Milk Day, those dealing with camel dairy said that in the past one year, demand for camel milk went up in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda as the quest to stock up on immune boosters accelerated with Covid-19.
Last year, a cafe in Scotland started selling camel milk products made from Kenyan camel milk. The cappuccinos, dubbed ‘camelccinos’, offered by the Willow Tea Rooms in Glasgow will see ten per cent of the profits go towards a scheme for camel milk traders in Kenya to help them deal with the effects of climate change.
The project was launched by Mercy Corps, a global humanitarian organisation, to enable 141 women camel milk traders in Wajir, to boost the shelf life of their product.
This is just one of the success stories from the East African nation since there are several entrepreneurs adding value to the milk to cater to the different clientele needs.
As the middle class in Africa continues growing, the market for camel milk is expanding beyond the traditional Middle East markets to Europe, China and America where it is already enjoying great uptake. Estimates by various research institutions show that demand will soar to unprecedented levels creating an opportunity for the pastoralist economy.
And as if on cue, the camel sector has received a boost with the establishment of the North American Camel Ranch Owners Association (NACROA).
The association aims to support and promote the camel industry in North America and advocate for best practices surrounding the welfare and health of camels. The organization was created under the supervision of the International Camel Organization (ICO).
Camel ranch owners in North America first held meetings in September last year to explore the development of an association under the ICO, before establishing the group later that month. ICO founder and president, Sheikh Fahd Hithleen had previously campaigned for the creation of NACROA, as well as other international organizations, such as the European Camel Ranch Owners Association.
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Hithleen said that the establishment of the new North American group will help to develop the overall camel sector since the number of camel ranches has grown in North America in recent years.
The ICO is a non-profit organization based in Riyadh and the group currently has about 105 member countries.
To increase momentum for the NACROA’s taking root the Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB Group) will also promote the association through the IsDB Group Business Forum (THIQAH).
Last year, Saudi Arabia opened the largest camel hospital in the world in Riyadh at a cost of US$36.5 million. The hospital will provide basic medical care to camels but also treat chronic and infectious diseases, in addition to focusing on the research and development of camel breeding and fertilization.
For entertainment, camel racing and camel polo are both popular sports, particularly in the Middle East.
Back in Africa, there are more than 12.2 million heads of camel in East Africa, making the region home to some of the world’s largest camel populations.
Camel milk is a source of livelihood for many communities in the arid areas in Africa where nomad and pastoral cultures are the way of life. Herders survive largely on camel milk when taking the animals on long distances to graze in desert and arid environments.
For thousands of pastoralists in the hot and arid swathes of the African continent who brave the sweltering heat and long dry spells that have over the years wiped out their livestock, camels are offering them a lifeline.
To capture the growing market and demand for the commodity, players in the sector are increasing the production of camel milk to meet the demand from consumers. Increasing dairies that are producing camel milk are also witnessing various companies showing interest and investing in them to increase the production of camel milk.
In the land down under, organizations like the Australian Wild Camel Corporation are increasing their herd sizes to meet the growing demand. The number of dairies producing camel milk has grown to 10 in Australia during the past two years.
Camel milk has been commonly consumed in the United Arab Emirates, Chad and Mongolia but now the need and usage is spreading across the world driven by the touted benefits. For African pastoralists who have been waiting, camel milk is now a venture to consider if they are to enjoy the benefits of the growing market demand.
By adopting camel rearing, farmers can become job creators in a continent that is plagued by unemployment, especially among the youth.
Read: Wajir’s ‘white gold’ camelccinos debut in Scotland coffee shops
