Camel Milk Technology Development in Kenya: Achievements, Lessons Learnt and Way Forward

For over 10 years, the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), Marsabit Centre, together with stakeholders and community groups has been conducting research for development on camel milk technology to develop food security and value added products. This paper summarises the achievements, lessons learnt and way forward in this road of camel milk technology development. Results show that camel milk technology development has undergone various phases, i.e. research on camel milk production, composition, value addition, marketing, and technology transfer, and considerable progress has been made. Various technologies and information packages have been developed. Farmers/ beneficiaries have adapted some of the technologies to suit their local conditions. However, sustaining some of the gains made has been a major challenge. Further research should focus on the development of milk products with longer shelf life, such as camel milk powder, and establishing the best technology transfer model appropriate for pastoralists. There is also need to move from the small scale businesses to large scale enterprises which can transform lives, so as to contribute towards the country’s blue-print of becoming an industrialised country by the year 2030.