© FAO/Collaboration efforts by FAO and the government of the Swiss Confederation

FAO and the government of the Swiss Confederation contribute to the strengthening of livelihoods of agropastoral communities in Somaliland 

The livestock sector plays a critical role in Somaliland’s economy. Every year, Somaliland exports millions of animals mainly to the Gulf states. In addition, livestock from Ethiopia’s Somali region and Kenya is typically prepared for export in Somaliland livestock markets and also exported to the Gulf states through the port of Berbera. However, natural shocks like droughts lead to increased scarcity of water and fodder for animals, which manifests in low productivity in livestock and significant reduction in livestock exports. Scarcity of water and fodder seeds also disrupts fodder production by agropastoralists. 

FAO, with funding from the government of the Swiss Confederation through the Somalia Information & Resilience Building Action (SIRA) project, has strengthened the fodder value-chain by improving fodder production, value-addition and marketing among 7 500 agropastoral households in Baki and Borama districts in Somaliland.  The project aimed at contributing to building resilience in this agropastoral communities through investment in efficient fodder production and fodder market systems to enable producers (local communities) to absorb and adapt to climatic shocks and stresses such as drought. 

In an effort to exploit economies of scale in production, processing and marketing of fodder, FAO supported the formation of 50 fodder groups from the 7 500 agropastoral households in 25 project villages. These fodder groups were supported to form and work in 10 cooperatives. These cooperatives were in turn provided with fodder equipment and tools to promote innovative strategies on physical processing of maize, sorghum and millet crop residues to produce value-added fodder products such as hay, silage, feed blocks and pellets. 

Hibo Mohamoud is a fodder producer and trader from Asha Ado village, one of the 25 targeted villages, who has benefitted from the SIRA project. “Before this project, I was just an ordinary agropastoralist, and I didn’t know about the many opportunities we have now,” she said. Hibo was among the women in the fodder producer groups who were provided with fodder equipment and tools and participated actively in the various capacity development trainings provided by FAO. “FAO built fodder processing and storage facilities for us and provided a set of fodder machines to grind the stalks. On top of that, FAO trained us on fodder production, processing, and marketing,” added Hibo. 

The processed fodder will enable local fodder traders like Hibo to access markets for higher returns, while reducing fodder wastages, and encouraging recycling of crop residue. Additionally, FAO established agropastoral field schools (APFSs) and worked alongside government extension staff improving their technical capacity in Good Agricultural Practices for fodder production and management, thus strengthening local institutional capacity that is crucial in sustaining the gains made in the project. “Processing fodder reduces bulkiness, improves feed storage and conservation, and increases nutritional security for livestock, allowing animals to maintain better body condition during prolonged dry periods, and enabling them recover faster after the onset of the rains. That is why we want these communities to remain resilient during drought periods,” said Ahmed Nur , FAO Somalia Farmer Field School Specialist. 

As one of the project’s outputs, FAO also conducted a National Fodder Exhibition event at the Borama Livestock Market to strengthen linkages between fodder producers, fodder traders, agro-dealers, feed processors, fodder machine manufacturers, livestock traders, dairy farmers and other actors along the fodder value-chain. The exhibition provided an opportunity for fodder producers to demonstrate or showcase the use of various fodder machines provided by the SIRA project as well as the various processed or value-added feeds such as pellets, hay bales, chopped and ground fodder derived from locally available and accessible fodder such as maize and sorghum stalks, natural rangeland grasses and cereal grains. This forum also initiated relationships among project beneficiaries, the private sector, and the consumers, towards strengthening fodder market linkages. 

As part of the institutional capacity building and strengthening of the regulatory framework along the fodder value chain, FAO supported the Ministry of Livestock and Fishery Development (MoLFD) to develop the Somaliland Livestock Feed Policy. The main aim of developing the policy is to ensure that the feed sub-sector meets the high national and regional demand for livestock feeds, to promote livestock feed trade, and to increase the fodder value chain actors’ incomes in an inclusive and sustainable manner.  

For small-scale fodder traders like Hibo, the project has opened doors for them and enabled them to acquire the necessary skills in fodder handling. “With the training I received, I am now able to get good returns from the fodder business. The profit is much higher than before and my customers are satisfied with my fodder. I can also manage my livestock within my homestead and get higher and nutritious yields,” said an elated Hibo.