Page 43 - AA 2025 Year Book Summary

Somalia

Somali Farmers Cultivate Hope

and Food Security with Certified Seeds

This seed multiplication farm is run
by the Bay Farmers’ Development As-
sociation, a network of more than 416
farmers’ cooperatives representing
over 2500 members across the region.
Isse, the head of a 19-member house-
hold, is both a cooperative member
and a forward-thinking farmer who un-
derstands the transformative potential
of this work.
For years, the farmers in the region
have been relying on uncertified seeds
from their fellow community members
or local market and have hence strug-
gled with low production. “We faced FAO has collaborated with farmer of the seed value chain—from selection
many challenges,” Isse recalls. “We cooperatives and facilitated their part- and planting to harvesting and proper
used to plant millet during the rainy nership with a private seed company to storage. “We learned how to handle
season and corn during the dry season multiply improved, high-yielding, and seeds properly, especially storage
but without proper seeds. We planted drought-tolerant sorghum and cowpea techniques—something we struggled
whatever we could find, and the results varieties. These climate-smart variet- with before”, says Isse.
were often disastrous”. ies—Gadam El Hamam for cowpea and The training further emphasized
A combination of climate change, M66 for sorghum—were promotedto best practices in seed quality control,
poor agricultural practices, and limited directly address the seed-quality chal- enabling farmers to identify and man-
access to quality seeds has significant- lenges faced by farmers in the region. age isolation distance, pest and dis-
ly hampered agricultural productivity, These improved seeds were used in ease management, and post-harvest
deepening cycles of food insecurity on-site multiplication plots, promoting handling. This has helped build con-
and vulnerability. broader adoption among local farmers fidence in producing clean, certified
and contributing to more resilient and
The turning point came with support seed that meets national standards.
from the Strengthening Emergency productive farming systems. “We used to reuse seeds without
Preparedness and Response to Food “FAO provided us with high-quality knowing their quality. Now we can tell
Crisis (SEPAREF) project, funded by seeds and multiplied by a local seed good seed from bad, and we under-
the African Development Bank (AfDB) company”, says Isse. This multiplica- stand how to maintain quality across
and implemented by the Food and Ag- tion process became a hands-on learn- seasons,” he explains.
riculture Organization of the United Na- ing experience, enabling cooperative
tions (FAO). The initiative aims to boost members to bulk seed and gain practi- Thanks to this support, farmers are
agricultural productivity and resilience cal knowledge. now experiencinghigher yields, im-
in Somalia by promoting sustainable “For example, 20 members received proved seed viability, and reduced
practices and improving access to criti- certified sorghum and cowpea seeds— losses. They are also beginning to see
cal farming inputs. the improved varieties showed a prom- the value of participating in a more for-
One of the project’s primary activities ising yield in terms of food and fod- mal seed system—either as producers
has been to import, test and identify der,” he explains. “Even though some or informed users. Isse describes the
suitable and agroecologically feasible farms received little rain, the crops per- training and certified seed as a game-
seed varieties and distribute certified formed well and will continue to plant changer.
seeds for key staple crops such as sor- subsequent seasons.” “The solution we have now is based
ghum and cowpea. Emphasis has been Beyond seeds, the project has em- on training—training that introduced
placed on drought-resistant, dual-pur- powered farmers through practical us to modern farming techniques. It’s
pose varieties which are valued for training on good agricultural practices. completely different from how we used
both food and fodder and known for Farmers like Isse have been equipped to farm”. Still, Isse highlights ongoing
early maturing. with knowledge covering every stage needs.
Arab Agriculture 2025 41