Una village, Dolow District Somalia.
The need to rehabilitate rangelands has emerged recently as an important part of the effort to increase food security and livestock nutrition in Somalia. Interventions are geared towards increasing the value of land for farming and improving adaptation to climate change. Through the BORESHA project, World Vision is targeting the most vulnerable and marginalized households in order to involve them in cash-for-work activities that increase land productivity, including land clearing and preparation for cultivation.
Mohamed Omar, a 34-year-old, resident of Una village in Dolow district is one of the 328 beneficiaries in the cash-for-work project under World Vision, which started in March 2022 when the drought began to severely impact his community. Through cash-for-work activities, Omar and other participating beneficiaries have been able to earn income while contributing to activities beneficial to the whole community. Particularly at this time, as the drought across the region continues, the money received through such cash for work activities goes a long way in supporting vulnerable households to cope with the negative effects of the drought.
“l am not here to just create income but for a long-lasting solution to drought,” he said. ‘My plans are to plant and store more fodder for future use: by doing this I will be able to reduce the impact of future failed rains”, he added. Besides participating in the cash-for-work activities, Omar has started planting different crops along the nearby river Dawa- the main source of water used by both humans and livestock.
Figure 1:Omar Farm in Una,Somalia
Through participating in cash for work he received US$5 per day for 20 days in the month of March 2022. Omar was initially cultivating one-hectare or arable land but has now been able to expand to two hectares. He is using this additional land to plant more fodder to feed his livestock which is comprised of 15 goats and 4 cattle. He is also growing food crops such as maize, cowpeas, onions, and tomatoes for consumption. Omar sells the onions and tomatoes to earn an extra income and is expecting to harvest fodder for his animals at end of August 2022.
Figure 2:Land Ploughing at Una Village
“Thanks to BORESHA, the expansion of land has given me more space to plant different cash crops and fodder and this will help me in improving the situation of my family and pay school fees for my two sons”, said Omar.