Humping climate change and equity! Can camels carry the burden of future milk supplies under climate change?

Humping climate change and equity! Humping biofuels! Humping Margaret Thatcher's trademark milk-snatching!

There are no doubt many silver bullets to this emerging problem. But, can camels carry the burden of future milk supplies under climate change?

The impact of climate change in East Africa is well-documented:

• Climate change will make many areas of Africa more arid


• Pastoralists will be hardest hit as some areas that are currently dry but are used as rangeland owing to the existence of ephemeral water courses – that will begin to run dry more frequently


• Many people [particularly the poorest] throughout Africa rely on milk protein supplied from pastoral herds as cheap, constant inputs into their diet


• Pastoral herds are being squeezed as:
  *** Land use changes are dis-favouring pastoralism, reducing total herd sizes and hence reducing local supply, encouraging imports and increasing the price of milk protein
  *** Climate change reduces availability of forage, water and land – further reducing supply.
  *** Demand for milk rises as the urban-pull demands of richer people out-compete the rural poor’s demands
  *** South African imports of cheap animal feed are drying up as the maize is being diverted for biofuels - increasing the cost of production
  
  BUT … there are positive signs:
  
• Higher prices of milk and meat might favour pastoralists, increasing investment [political and financial] in ensuring their livelihoods persist.


• Camel milk as a substitute is increasingly viable as consumer acceptability increases and camels are better adapted than livestock/ zebu to more arid conditions.
  
  Camels and milk, some facts:
  
• There are over 20 million camels


• Over 5 million tonnes of camel milk produced each year – most is used to suckle young camels


• Camels are the most efficient domestic animal for converting vegetative matter into work, milk and meat in desert areas


• Camels can provide long, steady supply of milk in the driest of times.


• During very dry periods, the water content of camel milk increases.


• Camel milk has three times the Vitamin C content of cow’s milk, as well as being low cholesterol, low sugar, high in minerals.


• Of course, in some countries it is famed as an aphrodisiac [e.g. Ethiopia]


• Estimated market by UN FAO for camel milk is 200 million people.


• Mauritania already exports camel milk to Europe and throughout Africa.


• Market innovations include camel cheese [Camelbert] and ice cream.


• Camelicious – a date flavoured camel milk in UAE

In East Africa, demand is mainly from urbanised Somalis. But it is the product of informal supply chains, and the hygiene standards are uncertain. The Kenyan Camel Association [kca@wananchi.com] is trying to develop a market linking urban consumers with rural pastoral communities – through ILRI.

Currently, Vital is marketing camel milk as 500ml milk – KSch 99/-; yoghurt – KSch 129/-; susa or sour milk – KSch 89/-; ice cream termed Cold Hump in flavours [Macadamia Nut, pineapple and coconut, cinammon and cardamom, banana and chocolate].

Importantly, we should expect many more stories like this to begin emerging - evidencing not only climate change through the markets but also hinting at mankind's inherent resolute capacity for adaptation in the face of rising risks. threats and opportunities.