Al Morooj Dairy launches first camel milk-based products

Strategic goals: The project targets the collection of both camel milk (4.32 million litres per year) and cow milk (3.24 million litres per year)

Al Morooj Dairy, the first commercial-scale camel milk processing project in the Sultanate of Oman, is weighing plans to roll out a broader range of processed dairy products with an eye on local, regional and international markets.

Salalah-based Al Morooj Dairy, which is an affiliate of Oman Food Investment Holding Company (OIFC) – part of Oman Investment Authority (OIA) – launched its maiden camel milk brand ‘Watani’ last week – the first Omani camel milk brand in the local market.

In an exclusive interview to the Observer, Dr Nasser Ali Musallam Bait Said (pictured), CEO, said the company has succeeded in establishing three collection centres as it plans to grow its portfolio of dairy products based on camel milk in the coming years.

“As part of our mission strategy, we are planning to expand our collection centres to cover the whole of Dhofar Governorate for both camel and cow milk production, with the aim of contributing to the self-sufficiency of dairy products in the Sultanate of Oman,” he stated.

Earlier, Dr Nasser hailed the significance of Al Morooj Dairy, which he described as a “socioeconomic project that strengthens cooperation between Omani cattle herders and the private sector in helping the rural community utilise their livestock wealth”.

Importantly, the project targets the collection of both camel milk (annual collection estimated at 4.32 million litres per year) and cow milk (3.24 million litres per year). Collection centres have been piloted at three locations – Niyabat Ghado, Niyabat Zeek and Niyabat Hajeef – with plans for further centres to be added later, he said.

Significantly, around 620 Omani farmers are currently supplying raw cow milk and raw camel milk to the project through these collection centres. Efforts are ongoing to register more families into the network, Dr Nasser stated.

According to the CEO, a co-packing arrangement with Al Safwa Dairy and Beverages, located at Saada in Salalah, allows for Al Morooj’s fresh cow milk and camel milk output to be processed into fresh pasteurised milk products.

But to ensure that the collection system meets high industry and quality standards, several measures have been put in place, he explained. “We receive raw cow and camel milk in separate clean stainless-steel (SS) cans from farmers at the corresponding centres and record the farmer’s registration number. Samples are then subjected to chemical analysis. If the test samples comply with our quality standards, the milk is approved and ready to be sent to the company’s chilling plant.

At the plant, the milk is pumped through the PHE (plate heat exchanger) and cooled to below 4 degrees Celsius to preserve the milk from microbial growth. The chilled milk is then transferred to the clean and sanitized insulated SS storage tanks and maintained in chilled condition. Based on the results of further QC testing, the chilled milk is then transferred in insulated SS tankers for despatch to the Al-Safwa Dairy and Beverages plant, he added.

Al Morooj’s Watani brand of fresh camel milk is targeted at general customers across all ages, says Dr Nasser. “The health conscious have begun to use camel milk these days. Camel milk is also suitable for consumption by children and the elderly as well. The majority of customers are Omanis, and they are used to consuming camel milk as part of their day-to-day diet.”