Camel milk production and marketing: Pastoral areas of Afar, Ethiopia

Abstract

Dromedary camels produce more milk for a longer period of time than any other milk animal held under the same harsh conditions. Produced milk is a primary source of some pastoralists' food, nutrition and income security all year round. However, there are limited research efforts on exploiting camel milk potential and its promotion for consumption and marketing. Thus, a cross-sectional survey was conducted on 100 camel herders; nine traders and three cooperatives during March to April 2017 in Afar region of Ethiopia. Besides, discussions were held with district leaders, end consumers and local elders. Collected data were analysed using descriptive statistical tools, figures and diagrams. The survey result revealed that 56.6% camel herds were lactating. Milking was done by men twice (67%) and three times (33%) per day with an average of 4.2 L per camel. A total of 82% of the camel herders were marketers, and women were dominant. Camel herders sold an average of 14.3 L milk per day at an average price of USD 0.95 per litre, whereas middlemen sold an average of 35.8 L at USD 1.22 per litre. The milk trade was done at herders' farm gate (18.3%), main roadsides (58.5%) and nearest towns (23.2%) using small plastic pots (68.3%) and plastic jerrycans (31.7%). Amongst the three marketing channels, 69.9% of the milk was directly sold to end consumers and fetched a higher price than other marketing channels, but the routes are limited to local markets. The camel herders perceived that they satisfied with milk for its nutritional, medicinal, social and economic values. Therefore, interventions need to focus on exploiting opportunities, addressing challenges/constraints in camel milk production and its marketing chain efficiency and effectiveness.

Review of the prevalence of foodborne pathogens in milk and dairy products in Ethiopia

“…In the rural system, milk is mainly produced for household consumption, and leftovers are sold in local informal markets. Rural systems can be further subdivided into production by pastoralists (limited to the lowlands), agro-pastoralists and mixed crop-livestock producers ( Getabalew, Alemneh, & Akeberegn, 2019 ). The rural system has been reported to account for 98% of the country's milk production ( Gebremichael et al., 2019 , Tadesse, 2018 ).…”

“…Rural systems can be further subdivided into production by pastoralists (limited to the lowlands), agro-pastoralists and mixed crop-livestock producers ( Getabalew, Alemneh, & Akeberegn, 2019 ). The rural system has been reported to account for 98% of the country's milk production ( Gebremichael et al., 2019 , Tadesse, 2018 ). The minority of milk was reported to be produced in peri-urban systems that include smallholder and commercial farms in the suburban areas near cities that have available grazing land ( Getabalew et al., 2019 ).…”

“…The rural system has been reported to account for 98% of the country's milk production ( Gebremichael et al., 2019 , Tadesse, 2018 ). The minority of milk was reported to be produced in peri-urban systems that include smallholder and commercial farms in the suburban areas near cities that have available grazing land ( Getabalew et al., 2019 ). Lastly, a small proportion of milk is produced in urban areas that are limited to farms close to cities, and that have no access to grazing lands ( Gezu and Tadesse, 2018 ).…”

“…According to the FAO, Ethiopia has the eleventh largest cattle inventory in the world, and the largest cattle inventory (including both dairy and beef cattle) in Africa, which demonstrates it suitability for growing the country's livestock sector ( FAO, 2019 ). The main identified limitations for the growth of the dairy sector include the low yield of milk per animal (currently 1.54 L per day), control of infectious and parasitic diseases of cattle, access to grazing land, and poor milk handling practices that lead to poor microbiological milk quality ( Getabalew et al., 2019 ). Improvement of good hygiene and manufacturing practices and milk microbiological quality could potentially enhance the growth of the dairy supply chain by enhancing not only milk safety, but also its quality and therefore shelf life and accessibility.…”

COVID-19 in pastoral contexts in the greater Horn of Africa: Implications and recommendations

“…But the number of those who benefit from pastoralism is much larger, as these systems supply important value chains, provide critical ecosystem services, and contribute to maintaining landscape functionality (Hoffmann et al 2014 ). Pastoralism is particularly widespread in the GHA because of the economic advantage that milk-based economies historically provided in ASALs and the integration of camels in some areas as a species capable of longer lactation during dry seasons (Gebremichael and Girmay 2019 ; Marshall 1990 ; Nori et al 2006 ). The importance of milk is sustained for the long-term upcoming trends in the region (Nori 2010 ; Manzano and Yamat 2018 ).…”