Towards the improvement of camel milk consumption in Morocco

Abstract

In recent years, the consumption of camel milk has risen worldwide owing to its high nutritional value and health promoting properties. However, its limited consumption in arid and semi-arid regions is still a major concern for both nomads and producers.In this context, the present contribution investigates the main factors affecting camel milk consumption in Morocco. A questionnaire was established for studying the perceptions of a wide range of the Moroccan population. Then, a consumer test was carried out in order to measure camel milk’s acceptance and preference percentages while comparing it to consumption of the widespread cow's milk. The analysis of the obtained feedbacks from the questionnaire revealed that around 73.4% of responders attributed their nonconsumption of camel milk to its unavailability and the ignorance of its pharmaceutical and nutritional benefits. Furthermore, the consumer test allowed to conclude that camel milk was by far the most preferred milk by the participants.Hence, since camel milk production in Morocco is still unexpectedly weak, the industrial exploitation of this product to a large scale may be considered as a virgin economic path for policy makers and industrial actors. A well-established investment in this sector can indeed improve the income of farmers and breeders, especially in rural areas, and support the Moroccan economic growth.