{"id":43589,"date":"2025-08-04T02:30:07","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T02:30:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/43589\/"},"modified":"2025-08-04T02:30:07","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T02:30:07","slug":"somalias-camel-milk-revolution-is-improving-nutrition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/43589\/","title":{"rendered":"Somalia’s camel milk revolution is improving nutrition"},"content":{"rendered":"

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) \u2014 Camels have long been the backbone of Somalia<\/a> \u2018s pastoralist culture, feeding families, transporting goods and standing tall in local folklore. But on the dusty outskirts of the capital, the camel now finds itself at the center of an agricultural revolution that could redefine Somali farming. <\/p>\n

On a breezy Wednesday morning in mid-June, The Associated Press visited Beder Camel Farm \u2014 one of a new generation of camel dairies springing up around Mogadishu. <\/p>\n

Dozens of camels sauntered around sandy paddocks while others nibbled on fresh fodder under the watchful eyes of herders. In a nearby shed, workers carefully milked the animals and collected the frothy yield in sanitized containers.<\/p>\n

Demand for camel milk is growing, buoyed by a wave of local entrepreneurs who see untapped potential in a traditional resource.<\/p>\n

Modernizing camel milk production <\/p>\n

Somalia is home to over 7 million camels \u2014 more than any other country on Earth \u2014 but only a fraction of that milk has ever reached urban grocery shelves, according to industry estimates. <\/p>\n

At the heart of the shift toward a modern approach to camel milk production is Dr. Abdirisak Mire Hashi, a veterinarian and the farm\u2019s manager. For Hashi, it\u2019s not only about profit \u2014 it\u2019s about preserving heritage while embracing progress.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomalis take pride in their heritage of raising camels. However, the way camels are raised has changed significantly over time,\u201d Hashi told The Associated Press as he inspected a milking herd.<\/p>\n

Each camel at Beder now produces up to 10 liters (2.6 gallons) of milk daily \u2014 double what traditional herders typically yield. The increase is attributed to new investments in veterinary care, better feed, and modern milking practices. The camels are routinely checked by vets, given nutritional supplements, and grazed on scientifically blended fodder, a far cry from the roaming nomadic herds of decades gone by.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were among the first to establish this kind of farm back in 2006, when very few people even knew about commercial camel milk production,\u201d said Jama Omar, CEO of Beder Camel Farm. \u201cOther farms have entered the market since then, but we currently hold around 40% of the market share.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe employ nearly 200 full-time staff,\u201d he added. \u201cIn addition, we bring in seasonal workers during key periods such as planting and harvest.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pioneering camel milk yogurt <\/p>\n

The farm\u2019s biggest leap may be its yogurt factory \u2014 the first in Somalia dedicated to processing camel milk into yogurt. <\/p>\n

Inside the factory, workers in white coats oversee stainless steel vats as fresh milk is cultured and packed. The final product is sold under the Beder brand which now retails in urban supermarkets across Mogadishu.<\/p>\n

Nelson Njoki Githu, a Kenyan-born food engineer overseeing the production line, says camel milk yogurt isn\u2019t just a novelty \u2014 it fills an important nutritional gap for local consumers. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe number one benefit compared to cow milk is that camel milk has lower levels of lactose,\u201d Githu explained. \u201cPeople with lactose intolerance can consume this milk without any issue. Again, the vitamin levels are higher, especially vitamin C, iron and zinc, compared to cow milk.\u201d<\/p>\n

For nutritionist Dr. Yahye Sholle, camel milk yogurt is a public health boost in a country where malnutrition remains a challenge.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is rich in magnesium and calcium, which support bone health. Additionally, it contains vitamins B12, C, and D. It also includes friendly bacteria known as probiotics, which are beneficial for gut health,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Such benefits have helped Beder\u2019s yogurt stand out in Mogadishu\u2019s increasingly competitive dairy market. <\/p>\n

Hashi said the next step is scaling up the business. He hopes to expand Beder\u2019s network of collection points beyond Mogadishu and plans to train pastoralists in remote areas on modern milking and hygiene practices so that more milk can be safely processed and sold.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we can modernize how we raise camels and handle the milk, we can create jobs, improve nutrition, and build pride in our own local products,\u201d Hashi said.<\/p>\n

Somali government encourages more investment <\/p>\n

The Somali government is encouraging more investment in the industry.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe benefits of camel milk are countless,\u201d said Dr. Kasim Abdi Moalim, Director of Animal Health at Somalia\u2019s Ministry of Livestock. \u201cIn countries like the UAE, camel milk is also used for cosmetics. Somalia must catch up and develop the full value chain.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said that government support is growing, with the establishment of a Dairy Act and a strategy for livestock sector development. \u201cA master investment plan is also in progress,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n

Back at the paddock, a line of camels stretches into the golden afternoon light, their steady, patient footsteps a reminder that progress in Somalia often moves at the pace of tradition \u2014 slow but unstoppable.<\/p>\n

From ancient caravans that crossed deserts to supermarket shelves stocked with yogurt, the Somali camel\u2019s journey continues, one cup at a time.<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

For more on Africa and development: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/africa-pulse<\/a><\/p>\n

The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP\u2019s standards<\/a> for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) \u2014 Camels have long been the backbone of Somalia \u2018s pastoralist culture, feeding families, transporting…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":43590,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[5684,2837,45,49,48,2841,84,16943,2842,30826,30828,395,66,30825,30827,883],"class_list":{"0":"post-43589","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nutrition","8":"tag-africa","9":"tag-animals","10":"tag-business","11":"tag-ca","12":"tag-canada","13":"tag-general-news","14":"tag-health","15":"tag-international-news","16":"tag-jwd-evergreen","17":"tag-mogadishu","18":"tag-nelson-njoki-githu","19":"tag-nutrition","20":"tag-science","21":"tag-somalia","22":"tag-somalia-government","23":"tag-world-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43589","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43589"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43589\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43590"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43589"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43589"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43589"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}