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Pastoralist herder looks to farming as an alternative livelihood

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Source: Adeso
Country: Somalia

by Mohamed Uwes

Mr Ahmed Dabatag, aged 68, is a farmer in Wisil village, some 60 km east of Galkayo town in South Somalia. Ahmed, a former pastoralist, settled in the village when he lost all his remaining goats and camels to drought in early 2010. While in the village, Ahmed—a father of fourteen children and married to two wives—used to fetch firewood and sell it in the local market to support his family. During the rainy season he would practice rain-fed farming in the valleys close to Wasil.

In November 2011, Adeso supported 30 farmers—including Ahmed—in Wisil village with farm tools, seeds and skills trainings. Ahmed was among those farmers who later formed the Wisil Farmers’ Association where he benefits from peer exchanges and trainings visits. Now, he grows sorghum, cow peas, watermelon and maize on his three hectare plot. Putting his new knowledge into practice, he has divided his farm into four sections and practices crop rotation every season to reduce pests and diseases.

Ahmed stores part of his harvest for domestic use and sells the surplus to cater for his family’s needs. In a good season, he gets on average income of SoS 25,000,000 (approximately USD 1085) from the sale of his produce. Ahmed explained during a recent Adeso evaluation visit that: “Despite the challenges, I will work hard to conserve and trap rain water by digging a small water pan so I that I can be able to grow some tomatoes, pepper and onions.” A simple intervention like providing seeds and skills training to subsistence farmers has a significant impact on his or her ability to overcome food insecurity. Ahmed and other beneficiaries of Adeso’s support have quickly been able to turn their situations around, and provide food and income for their families.


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