{"id":2239,"date":"2025-08-08T10:46:06","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T10:46:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eandelmagazine.com\/eandelmagazine\/?p=2239"},"modified":"2025-08-08T10:46:06","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T10:46:06","slug":"somalias-agricultural-revolution-quietly-escalating-with-camel-milk-production","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eandelmagazine.com\/eandelmagazine\/somalias-agricultural-revolution-quietly-escalating-with-camel-milk-production\/","title":{"rendered":"Somalia\u2019s Agricultural Revolution Quietly Escalating with Camel Milk Production"},"content":{"rendered":"

For centuries, the camel has been the lifeblood of Somalia\u2019s pastoralist culture \u2014 a steadfast companion that has fed families, carried goods across vast deserts, and stood proudly in the nation\u2019s folklore. But today, on the dusty outskirts of Mogadishu, this age-old symbol is at the center of a modern agricultural transformation that could redefine Somali farming.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

A New Kind of Camel Farm<\/strong><\/p>\n

On a breezy Wednesday morning in mid-June, the Associated Press visited Beder Camel Farm, one of a growing number of camel dairies emerging around the Somali capital.<\/p>\n

Here, dozens of camels wander sandy paddocks, some chewing fresh fodder under the watch of herders. In a nearby shed, workers carefully milk the animals, collecting the frothy yield in sanitized containers. This is not the image of the roaming nomadic herds that dominate Somalia\u2019s countryside \u2014 it\u2019s a glimpse into a controlled, technology-driven approach to camel milk production.<\/p>\n

Demand for camel milk is rising fast, fueled by Somali entrepreneurs who see untapped potential in a resource as old as the nation itself.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Somalia\u2019s Camel Capital<\/strong><\/p>\n

Somalia is home to more than 7 million camels, the largest population in the world. Yet, until recently, only a small fraction of their milk ever made it to urban markets.<\/p>\n

Dr. Abdirisak Mire Hashi, a veterinarian and Beder\u2019s farm manager, is helping change that. \u201cSomalis take pride in their heritage of raising camels,\u201d he says. \u201cBut the way camels are raised has evolved significantly over time.\u201d<\/p>\n

At Beder, each camel now produces up to 10 liters (2.6 gallons) of milk a day, which is about twice the output of traditional herds. The secret lies in better veterinary care, nutrient-rich feed, and modern milking techniques. The camels are routinely checked by vets, fed scientifically blended fodder, and supplemented with vitamins, a far cry from the unpredictable grazing patterns of the past.<\/p>\n

Jama Omar, Beder\u2019s CEO, recalls their early beginnings. \u201cWe started in 2006 when commercial camel milk production was almost unheard of here. Now, we hold about 40% of the market share and employ nearly 200 full-time staff, plus seasonal workers during planting and harvest periods.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

From Milk to Yogurt \u2014 A Somali First<\/strong><\/p>\n

Beder\u2019s most ambitious leap is its camel milk yogurt factory \u2014 the first of its kind in Somalia. Inside, workers in crisp white coats oversee stainless steel vats where fresh milk is cultured, packed, and shipped under the \u201cBeder\u201d brand to Mogadishu\u2019s supermarkets.<\/p>\n

Food engineer Nelson Njoki Githu, originally from Kenya, says camel milk yogurt is more than a novelty. \u201cIt\u2019s lower in lactose than cow\u2019s milk, making it suitable for people with lactose intolerance. It also contains more vitamin C, iron, and zinc than cow\u2019s milk,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n

Nutritionist Dr. Yahye Sholle adds, \u201cCamel milk is rich in magnesium, calcium, and vitamins B12, C, and D. It also contains probiotics that support gut health \u2014 a major benefit in a country where malnutrition is still a challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n

These health benefits have helped Beder\u2019s yogurt stand out in an increasingly competitive dairy market, and demand is growing beyond Mogadishu.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Scaling Up for the Future<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hashi\u2019s next goal is expansion \u2014 building more milk collection points beyond the capital and training pastoralists in remote areas on hygiene and modern milking methods. \u201cIf we can modernize camel rearing and milk handling,\u201d he says, \u201cwe can create jobs, improve nutrition, and build pride in Somali-made products.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Government Support and the Bigger Picture<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Somali government is also pushing for investment in the camel dairy industry. Dr. Kasim Abdi Moalim, Director of Animal Health at the Ministry of Livestock, sees even greater potential. \u201cIn the UAE, camel milk is used not only for food but also for cosmetics. Somalia must develop the full value chain.\u201d<\/p>\n

To support this growth, the government has introduced a Dairy Act, a livestock development strategy, and is drafting a master investment plan for the sector.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tradition Meets Progress<\/strong><\/p>\n

As the sun dips over the paddocks, a line of camels moves slowly through the golden light \u2014 a scene that captures the essence of Somalia\u2019s agricultural future. Here, tradition and innovation walk side by side. From ancient desert caravans to chilled yogurt cups on urban supermarket shelves, the Somali camel\u2019s journey is far from over \u2014 and now, it\u2019s carrying the promise of a healthier, more prosperous nation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For centuries, the camel has been the lifeblood of Somalia\u2019s pastoralist culture \u2014 a steadfast…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2243,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,5,79],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2239","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-africa","category-business","category-somalia"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/eandelmagazine.com\/eandelmagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/verblyuzhe_moloko.jpg",800,500,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/eandelmagazine.com\/eandelmagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/verblyuzhe_moloko-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/eandelmagazine.com\/eandelmagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/verblyuzhe_moloko-300x188.jpg",300,188,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/eandelmagazine.com\/eandelmagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/verblyuzhe_moloko-768x480.jpg",640,400,true],"large":["https:\/\/eandelmagazine.com\/eandelmagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/verblyuzhe_moloko.jpg",640,400,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/eandelmagazine.com\/eandelmagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/verblyuzhe_moloko.jpg",800,500,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/eandelmagazine.com\/eandelmagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/verblyuzhe_moloko.jpg",800,500,false],"wpucv-grid-three":["https:\/\/eandelmagazine.com\/eandelmagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/verblyuzhe_moloko.jpg",360,225,false],"wpucv-grid-two":["https:\/\/eandelmagazine.com\/eandelmagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/verblyuzhe_moloko.jpg",600,375,false],"wpucv-grid-one":["https:\/\/eandelmagazine.com\/eandelmagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/verblyuzhe_moloko.jpg",800,500,false],"wpucv-classic":["https:\/\/eandelmagazine.com\/eandelmagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/verblyuzhe_moloko.jpg",272,170,false],"wpucv-classic-small":["https:\/\/eandelmagazine.com\/eandelmagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/verblyuzhe_moloko.jpg",150,94,false],"wpucv-galary":["https:\/\/eandelmagazine.com\/eandelmagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/verblyuzhe_moloko.jpg",400,250,false],"covernews-slider-full":["https:\/\/eandelmagazine.com\/eandelmagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/verblyuzhe_moloko.jpg",800,500,false],"covernews-slider-center":["https:\/\/eandelmagazine.com\/eandelmagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/verblyuzhe_moloko.jpg",800,500,false],"covernews-featured":["https:\/\/eandelmagazine.com\/eandelmagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/verblyuzhe_moloko.jpg",800,500,false],"covernews-medium":["https:\/\/eandelmagazine.com\/eandelmagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/verblyuzhe_moloko-540x340.jpg",540,340,true],"covernews-medium-square":["https:\/\/eandelmagazine.com\/eandelmagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/verblyuzhe_moloko-400x250.jpg",400,250,true]},"author_info":{"info":["Saint Rich"]},"category_info":"Africa<\/a> Business<\/a> Somalia<\/a>","tag_info":"Somalia","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eandelmagazine.com\/eandelmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2239","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eandelmagazine.com\/eandelmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eandelmagazine.com\/eandelmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eandelmagazine.com\/eandelmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eandelmagazine.com\/eandelmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2239"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/eandelmagazine.com\/eandelmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2239\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2245,"href":"https:\/\/eandelmagazine.com\/eandelmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2239\/revisions\/2245"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eandelmagazine.com\/eandelmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2243"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eandelmagazine.com\/eandelmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2239"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eandelmagazine.com\/eandelmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2239"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eandelmagazine.com\/eandelmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2239"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}