For the first time, Somali farmers are turning themselves into
suppliers of high-quality food assistance for their fellow Somali people,
reports NaijaAgroNet.
The new initiative, NaijaAgroNet
gathered is backed by the European Union (EU), the government of Austria and
two United Nations food security agencies has helped Somali farmers achieve
this major agricultural breakthrough in a region of the country that was
gripped by famine less than three years ago.
NaijaAgroNet also gathered
that with the support of the EU and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO), small-scale farmers have boosted the yields and quality of their maize
grains, allowing them to sell 200 metric tons of high-quality maize to the UN’s
World Food Programme (WFP), which purchased the grain with funds supplied by
Austria.
Agricultural communities – especially in south-central Somalia, the
country’s grain basket – have, over the last two decades, been severely
affected by conflict and recurrent drought, which has resulted in the
widespread failure of crops and poor yields. The EU, Austria, FAO and WFP are
working with local farmers to change that.
"The EU strongly supports this pilot initiative to empower the
Somali farmers and their markets,” said Michele Cervone d'Urso, the EU
Ambassador to Somalia. “By enabling them to provide food aid for Somalia, we
support the entire Somali economy."
“This initiative shows that Somali farmers are not helpless. With
minimal assistance including agricultural inputs, tools, technical skills in
storage, grading and marketing, they can make a great difference,” said Luca
Alinovi, FAO’s outgoing representative for Somalia.
WFP Country Representative Stefano Porretti described the initiative
“as a significant achievement for the participating farmers” and a milestone
for WFP’s operations in Somalia.
“Strengthening livelihoods and increasing resiliency is an integral
part of WFP’s strategy in Somalia,” Porretti added. “WFP will continue to
support small-scale farmers in Somalia by empowering them to produce and sell
more food, so as to become competitive players in local markets.”
The Austrian embassy in Nairobi, which also covers Somalia, said that
Austria, as one of the partners and sponsors of this project, was delighted
that this valuable initiative had been such a success. It further added that it
was another example that people in need, given the necessary assistance and
possibilities, are able to help themselves and thus make a difference to their
lives.
Isaac Oyimah/GEE
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