N.Eastern camel farmers told to tap into China ready milk market

Camel dairy farmers in North Eastern have been urged to tap the opportunity of China’s ready market.

Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, Erick Ruto announced China’s demand for nine million litres of camel milk annually from Kenya.

He said that it was a great opportunity for livestock farmers in Northern Kenya challenging them to take advantage of it.

This he said will help the Kenya camel milk dairy farmers receive Sh5.2 billion annually from China.

He was speaking in Garissa during the launch of the four-year strategic plan for the KNCC and Industry-Garissa Chapter.

He said that KNCC is aiming to avail business opportunities for the business community calling on them to start thinking outside the box to fully maximize the opportunities available.

He urged the county governments in Northern Kenya to invest in supporting the local camel milk dairy farmers to enable them to venture into the global camel dairy market in China and other countries.

He said the global demand for livestock products was increasing and further announced Omman’s demand of 500 tonnes of blackhead sheep meat from Kenya, amounting to Sh8.1 billion.

“ The global demand for livestock products is an opportunity we need to tap into, we are still looking for opportunities to link both the local livestock and crop farmers to the international market”, Ruto said.

He called upon the Garissa chapter to implement the strategic plan launched that was targeting to recruit at least 10,000 members, attract investors and increase business opportunities among other benefits.

He also mentioned plans by the KNCCI in partnership with Mastercard to launch a Sheria complaint sacco that will provide loans to the business community.

Garissa Governor, Nathif Jama, said Garissa was planning to hold a major investment forum that will also enhance business opportunities for the business community and national and international investors.

He said the county Department of Trade and Investment was ready to work with the Garissa KNCCI chapter towards the successful implementation of the four-year strategy plan.

The Deputy President of KNCCI Mustafa Ramadhan called upon the Garissa KNCCI chapter to carry out a mapping of the available natural resources and business investment opportunities.

“Our visit informs us of the availability of natural resources including Gypsum mining and plenty of Agricultural products in Garissa, let the local chamber chapter, research on all the existing potentials and we do linkages on the available market”, he said.

KNCCI Garissa chapter chairperson, Mohamed Salat Ahmed, said the four-year strategic plan supported by donors will help the business community seize opportunities that never existed before.

“We are clear on the fact that the overall direction, effectiveness, supervision and accountability of the institution are not on one single individual or one group of individuals but collective responsibility that should be guided in an organized process,'' he said. 

The 350 million four-year plan strategy launched is supported by USAID, ILO and ACDI-VOCA.