East Africa is home to the world’s largest camel population of more than 12.2 million camel. Camel Milk rich in iron, vitamin B and C, and low in fat, is acclaimed across the world for its medicinal value—particularly against diabetics and allergies—and even as an aphrodisiac. It is regarded as a source of nutrition especially in hot and arid zones. Africa has already made significant contributions to global superfoods with their high content of nutrients and antioxidants. Some of them are Ethiopia’s teft , Senegal’s Fonio, the baobab, tamarind, and dried hibiscus, etc. Given its health and nutritional benefits, East Africa is trying to promote the virgin camel milk industry as the next global superfood attracting health-conscious consumers. A set of young entrepreneurs of Somalia and Kenya are trying to tap into what some have called the “white gold” through a combination of direct marketing, social media, and word of mouth. Somalia, that has one of the highest numbers of camels worldwide, camel dairy production is also being explored as a profitable business that can integrate pastoralists into the formal economy. East African entrepreneurs are also on the look out for partnerships for venturing into the manufacture of products like camel milk cheese, ice cream, and soaps. Camel milk also offers great scope for making cosmetics— probably triggered by the belief that the secret of the legendary beauty of the Egyptian queen Cleopatra was because she used to bathe in camel milk to maintain soft and clear skin. However, the industry faces a number of challenges related to sourcing, infrastructure, and marketing, etc.
Slowly the west is waking up to the health benefits of Camel milk. For the first time ever, Glasgow in late May introduced cappuccinos made from camel milk as part of a project to support Kenyan female milk traders who are battling climate change.
