Along the Milky Way: Marketing Camel Milk in Puntland, Somalia

Abstract

Milk is the most critical resource in pastoral systems; it is the staple food as well as the most precious gift. When it flows it means rains have come and peace is there. Milk production and utilisation is deeply embedded in the pastoral institutional setting, which governs natural resource management, household dynamics and social roles. The recent commercialisation of camel milk and its increasing role as an income generator in some pastoral regions reflects and induces important societal changes. By investigating the nature and the dynamics of camel milk production and commercialisation, this article explores their impacts on society as well as on local livelihoods in the Somali context. It does so in Puntland, the northeastern territories of Somalia, where commercialisation of camel milk is an increasingly key dimension of the strategy to enhance livelihood options among pastoralists.Le lait est la ressource la plus cruciale dans les syste`mes pastoraux; il constitue non seulement l'aliment de base mais le don le plus pre´cieux; s'il y a du lait, c'est que les pluies sont tombe´es, et la paix re`gne. La production et l'utilisation du lait sont profonde´ment ancre´es dans le syste`me institutionnel pastoral, qui gouverne la gestion des ressources naturelles, les dynamiques des me´nages et les roˆles sociaux. La commercialisation re´cente du lait de chameau et le fait qu'il procure des revenus croissants dans les re´gions pastorales refle`te et provoque des changements socie´taux importants. En e´tudiant la nature et les dynamiques de production et de commercialisation de lait de chameau, cet article retrace l'impact de ces re´cents changements sur la socie´te´, ainsi que sur les moyens de subsistance dans le contexte Somalien. L'e´tude se concentre sur le Puntland dans le nordest de la Somalie ou`la commercialisation du lait de chameau devient une dimension de plus en plus importante de la strate´gie visant a`renforcer les moyens de subsistance des pasteurs.

Benefits and Risks of Smallholder Livestock Production on Child Nutrition in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

“…Twenty-two observational studies discussed women's empowerment in livestock in the context of having access to and control over resources. Larger livestock and income from larger livestock tend to be more under men's control ( 106 ), while smaller-scale livestock activities tend to be more under the control of women ( 101 , 104 ). Poultry production, in particular, was the most widely cited production system under the control of women ( 99 , 100 , 103 , 107 – 109 ).…”

“…Eleven observational studies discussed women's empowerment in the context of control and use of income. Some evidence suggests that women may have more control over income from small ruminant, poultry, and dairy products ( 99 , 101 , 114 , 115 ). Some evidence suggests that as a livestock production activity becomes more lucrative, the dynamics of control between men and women change, with more control shifting to men ( 107 , 116 , 117 ).…”

“…Even when women participate in livestock-related activities and generate ASF, they may not have control over the use of ASF from livestock production ( 123 ). Milk and poultry production are areas where women may be the main decision-makers and have more control over the use of ASF within the household ( 101 , 114 , 124 , 125 ). Additionally, if a household generates a surplus of an ASF, then women may be given control over the surplus to use or sell ( 102 ).…”

“…Nine of the 33 observational studies investigated women's empowerment in the context of decisions about production. Four studies discussed women's decision-making and role in small-ruminant production and reported that women tend to be more responsible for small ruminant activities, mainly poultry production (98)(99)(100)(101)(102)(103), while men tend to have more responsibility over large ruminant production, such as cattle or camel (99,101,104). One study pointed to the head of household's importance in decision-making ability over livestock production, discussing how women in women-headed households were more likely to retain control over livestock production compared to women in men-headed households (105).…”