In a camel leasing arrangement, camel milk dairies lease lactating camels from pastoralists when the pastoralists are unable to care for the animals due to shocks or other stressors (watch “What is Camel Leasing?”). Through the lease, the dairies care for the animals, providing feed, water, and veterinary services to help maintain milk production. In concept, the lease provides for a potential win-win situation for both parties. But what do participants say about the practice?

Through research conducted by RTI International as part of the Feed the Future Somalia Camel Leasing to Impact Resilience Activity, one pastoralist we interviewed said that thanks to camel leasing, he and his family are better prepared to handle droughts and are resilient during hard times. 

“I believe we are better prepared for droughts or shock,” said another. “[Because of camel leasing], if drought occurs, I have savings that can cover our needs, whether it is water or food.” 

But not every aspect of camel leasing was positive, we found.

Lessees (pastoralists) sometimes complained of poor animal care – and even death – at the hands of the dairies. And both parties noted that there can be disagreements about the amount of milk the camels provide or the appropriate amount of compensation for the pastoralists. 

These individuals’ stories provide a snapshot of the camel leasing experience, and should not be interpreted as evidence of impact. However, these case studies bring to light some of the benefits and risks associated with camel leasing, as well as learnings that can contribute to future research.

Read the Camel Leasing Case Studies and watch the video highlighting pastoralist and dairy farm experiences below.