Camel Industry Finds New Market
Kenya’s new trade deal to export camel products to China is good news for breeders
Abdul Khalifa, 62, owns a large herd of camels in Kenya’s North Eastern Province. Based in the rural outskirts of Garissa, a town located 367 km northeast of the nation’s capital Nairobi, a five-and-a-half-hour bus ride, Khalifa has been breeding camels for more years than he can remember. Most of the land in the area is communal land, meaning it is wholly owned or shared by the community. Khalifa’s almost 600 camels make him one of the wealthiest herders in his community, as camel meat brings in a substantial income.
Kenya has a total of 4.72 million camels out of the approximate 13.7 million in East Africa, according to the country’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Co-operatives. The main camel breeds are Somali, Rendile, Gabbra and Turkana. These names are also similar to the communities that breed them.
“For a female camel, I sell it at the local market for as high as 190,000 Kenyan shillings ($1,260). A male camel fetches around 130,000 Kenyan shillings ($860),” he said.
However, Khalifa said that when slaughtered, herders can make more from sales of meat than from selling live camels. This is because a healthy male camel can weigh as much as 400 kg and its meat sells anywhere between $2.30 to $9 per kg, depending on a range of factors including location, quality and demand.
“Adult female camels cost more because they produce milk and are more economically viable,” he said. Camel milk is also good for human health and sells for around $3 a litre in local supermarkets.
New markets
But from 1 January 2024, Kenya will begin exporting camel meat and milk to China. Khalifa is excited as this will boost his income.
“The prices of the animals will definitely go up, a big advantage for me and my competitors. Of course,
in Kenya. “We have to form strong local camel breeder associations to improve on both quantity and quality. The good thing is we now have a ready market.”
He said that the government will work closely with breeders. “For us to grow our figures as a country and improve the economy, we need to identify the challenges and obviously improve on our gains,” he added.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Co-operatives is currently working on new guidelines that it will discuss with the breeders. These guidelines include quality, safety, sanitation and several other measures that will boost productivity.
“We will work together with breeders and discuss and agree together what is good for them. Eventually, we will launch new guidelines in the near future,” said Mithika Linturi, cabinet secretary for agriculture and livestock development.
Strengthening the Kenya Camel Association is very important, said Linturi. In addition, strengthening the Kenya Livestock Breeders Association is vital. These are the two largest livestock and most influential associations in the country.
“Working closely with these associations will be very important in realising many goals. Doubling or even tripling production with new markets such as China is vital and it is something that is doable,” said Linturi.
The country’s breeders will target supermarkets, restaurants and major eateries in China. Also, hospitals and schools are being targeted as part of expansion programmes.
“We plan to have very strong markets in China. As a farmer, I feel very happy to expand my business to China. I have travelled to China three times before. Beijing and Shanghai as well as Hong Kong are very big markets. This opportunity will greatly expand my camel business,” said herd owner Mohammed Ali.