As pastoralist communities seek ways of adapting to climate change, Tahira Mohamed and Roba Jilo explain how camel rearing is growing in dryland areas, providing sustainable livelihoods in regions facing recurrent drought.
Writing in The Elephant, Mohamed and Jilo argue that camels in drylands are proving to be resilient and adaptive, supporting millions of pastoralist livelihoods. Even in the harshest conditions, camels can subsist on minimal fodder, feeding on drought-resistant shrubs and the leaves of tall trees. Moreover camels convert the fat in their humps into water and can go without water for up to three weeks. Resistant to harsh conditions and common animal diseases, camels can produce between 3 and 15 litres of milk per day, providing a vital source of nutrition as well as income from the sale of the milk.
See the products of a community ‘photovoice’ project in northern Kenya that illustrates some of the opportunities and challenges of camel keepers and producers – with images and narratives from the perspectives of the community members.