A.H. Shirwa, H.M. Haji and A. A. Mohamed (Baffo): Paper Presented at the Seminar on: “The Role of the Somali Intellectuals in the Stabilization of Somalia during the Transitional Period”, Nairobi, Kenya, Sept 20-24, 04

Introduction

The agriculture sector, including livestock, crops, fisheries and natural resources are the primary and most important source of livelihood and socio-economic growth for Somalia. The prolonged civil strife has however, resulted in a breakdown of the national economy and a deterioration of traditional livelihood systems.

Livestock: It is considered that more than half of all Somalis are engaged in livestock rearing (camels, cattle, sheep and goats) which provides a crucial source of both food and cash income. Livestock exports to the Gulf States traditionally provided the major source of export earnings to the benefit of pastoral communities. In 1998, the Gulf States imposed a livestock ban on Somalia and other countries in the Horn of Africa following alleged outbreaks of Rift Valley Fever. The ban was eventually lifted in 1999, but was subsequently re-imposed in September 2000 with serious consequences on the Somali livestock export industry, as well as on pastoralist livelihoods, rangelands and related marketing and trade networks across Somalia. The second livestock ban was lifted by most Arab Gulf States, but is still in force in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which is the main market, especially during the Haj and Ramadan seasons. The other markets although important are small and due to lack of organised exports, this often results in price collapse.

somali_map.jpg (37482 bytes) Crops: Most crop production takes place in the south and central regions, which have suffered the most from civil conflict. Since 1991, government and private institutions collapsed and no services are provided to farmers. Irrigation and flood control infrastructure along the two main rivers are in a serious state of disrepair. As a result, overall production of staple food crops (sorghum and maize) has decreased by as much as 50% in most of the agriculturally important regions of Somalia. Production of major export crops, including banana, grapefruits and watermelons have dropped dramatically. Some NGOs have tried to provide extension and rehabilitation services, but the impact of these efforts have been minimal due to security conditions, limited technical experience and inadequate institutional support.

Fisheries: Activities in the fisheries sector are extremely limited and small-scale. In the absence of government structures and credible coast guards, there is widespread illegal fishing in Somali seawaters. Piracy is common. There are also persistent reports that the Somali coast is increasingly being used as a dumping ground for industrial hazardous waste.

Natural Resources: The complete absence of regulatory environmental safeguards for the management of forests, rangelands, water resources and wildlife has taken a harsh toll on Somalia’s natural resource base. Most alarming is the pervasive cutting of trees, where so few exist, for charcoal production and export, and the virtual extermination of wildlife. Causes, limitations, and strategies for possible interventions on deforestation and charcoal export were discussed by SATG (Somali Agricultural Technical Group) in an electronic forum. A list of recommendations, summarized from the discussion, are available at SATG website (SATG 2004). The proliferation of artificial water catchments (berkads) in many parts of northern Somalia has lead to serious overgrazing and rapid degradation of vegetative cover and soil degradation (man-made drought). This is further exacerbated by the recent fencing of pastureland, which may be a last attempt of pastoral families to save their livestock, and hence their livelihood base. In some regions of Somalia the man-made environmental degradation is at a crucial point.

Food Security: Years of conflict, lack of government structures and internal population movement have undermined livelihood systems and left the Somali people increasingly vulnerable to food security threats (drought, flooding) that traditional systems have long coped with. In the south, where rehabilitation and development efforts have been minimal, food security remains precarious and humanitarian assistance is regularly provided in times of scarcity. In the north, serious degradation of traditional rangelands and recurring drought in some areas has resulted in livelihoods crisis and food insecurity, requiring recent humanitarian interventions.

Strategies for Agriculture Intervention

Intervention strategies and recommended actions in the agriculture sector including crop, livestock, fisheries and natural resources, has been addressed by different committees working in the region. Under the auspices of the Somali Aid Coordinating Body (SACB) Agriculture Working Group, a strategy for the agriculture sector for Somalia has been developed in 2001 and later revised following the SACB Agriculture Strategy Review Workshop in April 2004 (SACB 2004). Similarly, the Economic Recovery, Institutional Building and Resources Mobilization Committee of the reconciliation conference, have endorsed a set of recommendations in the agriculture sector. In addition, there is a separate livestock sector strategy developed by EC, WB and FAO (FAO, World Bank and EU 2004). A comprehensive study on banana diversification and agriculture development in Lower Shabelle area was conducted by the European Union (EU 2003). These strategies and others should be used harmoniously to formulate proper plans of action for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the agriculture industry in Somalia. Detailed list of recommended actions endorsed by the economic recovery committee are as follows:

Crops: Recommended Actions

Conflict resolution, solution to the problem of land tenure and water rights
Reconstruction of flood control and storage infrastructure such as Jowhar off-stream storage and flood control channels
Reconstruction of flood embankments and relief channels on the Shabelle and Juba Rivers
Desilting of major, secondary and tertiary canals and drains
Repair/reconstruction of water control structures such as barrages and dams, off-take and diversion structures, culverts and the irrigation and drainage networks
Assessment of the need for major repairs, rehabilitation or reconstruction of barrages and dams.
Establishment of water users association (WUAs)
Re-establishment of the joint venture arrangement for the export of banana and other export crops
Re-establishment of a nucleolus of agricultural professionals to benefit from access to existing regional and international agricultural technologies and planting material that are suitable to Somalia environment
Improving the capacity of available professionals, training of new ones and equipping them with up to date know how in the sector.
Expansion of small-scale wadi irrigation technology from the NW to the other rainfed areas
Rehabilitation and modernization of rainfed agriculture and provision of the needed inputs such as phosphates fertilizers, animal manure and green manure through community driven development (CDD).
Re-establish the research and production of fodder and animal feed
Reforestation of agricultural area for wind-breaking, fuel-wood and shade

Livestock: Recommended Actions

Establishment of veterinary services to support livestock production and trade.
A national need assessment of livestock health, production and trade.
Establishment of conducive and supportive policies to assist the private sector in the export of livestock and their by products by providing services such as: vaccination, certification, holding grounds, stock routes, quarantine stations etc.
Improving the capacity of available professionals, training of new ones and equipping them with up to date know how in the sector.
Establishment of central laboratory equipped appropriately to perform disease diagnosis and the control of the quality of veterinary medicines and vaccines.
Establishment of drought mitigation institutions which re-introduce range reserves and rotational grazing and collaborate with the international Early Warning institutions such as FEWS NET.
Improvement of the quality of hides and skins during rearing and processing.

Fisheries: Recommended Actions

Encourage further private investment in fishing, processing, cold storage, drying and cunning of processed products.
Establish efficient and lean coastal guards
Further assessment of Somalia’s marine resources including fisheries, algae etc with objective of sustainable use.
Develop small fishing ports and all weather coastal access roads to enable the private sector to invest in the sub-sector
encourage sustainable fishing in Shabelle and Juba Rivers

Natural Resource Management: Recommended Actions

Re-establishment of institutions to enforce the regulations that safeguard against environmental degradation
Complete ban of charcoal export, wildlife hunting and export, dumping of hazardous waste and illegal fishing
Establishment of credible guards
In collaboration with international agencies, carrying out environmental assessment using remote sensing and ground verification.
Rehabilitation of forest and rangelands
Organize and control the exploitation of all natural resources
Impose ban on hunting and cutting of endangered animals and plant species

Documentation of Historic Information on Agriculture

In addition to the widespread agriculture infrastructure destruction and collapse of the main cash crop production, the civil war also caused a significant loss to historic documents that served the agriculture communities for many years. In view of the present circumstances where law and order have not been restored, it is very crucial to develop strategies that can help document and utilize the wealth of agriculture information generated prior to the civil unrest. Documenting this information in an easy-to-use electronic form will have a positive impact to the agriculture community and to non-governmental organizations currently working in the agriculture sector. The information can be used as a knowledge base resource centre where intervention strategies can be drawn. It can help avoid duplication of work previously conducted and also, it can form the basis for future development strategies.

Summary

The agriculture sector, including livestock, crops, fisheries and natural resources are the primary and most important source of livelihood and socio-economic growth for Somalia. The hostilities for the past 14 years has resulted in a breakdown of the national economy, destruction of agriculture infrastructure, loss of human resources and historic information, and a deterioration of traditional livelihood systems. The status of the post-war Somali agricultural and intervention strategies are documented in various reports. These strategies should be used wisely to prepare a road map for intervention and a comprehensive plan for future actions. Therefore, during the transitional period, there is an urgent need to build a solid base for future agriculture interventions. The establishment of a competent and highly skilled technical team with strong link to the international research centers, regional networks and donor agencies is crucial for future planning of a far-reaching agriculture rehabilitation program.

References

FAO, World Bank and European Union, 2004. Somalia: Towards a Livestock Sector Strategy. Final Report. April 29, 2004

EU, 2003. Banana Sector Study for Somalia: Strategy of Agriculture Development and diversification in Lower Shabelle. Revised Final Report, November 2003.

SACB, 2004. Somali Aid Coordination Body, Agriculture Sector Strategy Framework, Final Draft, August 31 2004

SATG, 2004. Causes, Limitations, and Strategies for Possible Interventions on Deforestation and Charcoal Export. Somali Agriculture Technical Group.

http://www.markacadeey.com/satg/charcoal_export.htm