Page 24 - AA 2022 YEAR BOOK

Djibouti

PLANS TO DEVELOP DJIBOUTI’S AGRICULTURE AND

FISHING TO PROMOTE FOOD

The goal of diversifying Djibouti’s with the inherent challenges of the Djibouti Vision 2035 strategy document
economy will depend on raising the land. Water scarcity has long prevented and the World Trade Organisation.
contribution of several sectors to the the sector from growing. Although the According to Said Mohamed Baragoita,
country’s GDP. Among the government’s government understands that it will who is in charge of the Programme
priorities is the expansion of agriculture unlikely be able to develop large-scale for the Mobilisation of Surface Waters
and fishing activities. The contribution agriculture production, authorities see and Sustainable Management of Lands
of agriculture to the national GDP is small-scale agricultural development (Programme de Mobilisation des Eaux
expected to increase from 3.7% in 2012 on certain products as an effective way de Surface et Gestion Durable des
to 4.1% in 2022 and 5% of GDP by 2035, to create employment and increase Terre, PDSP), Djibouti has close to
according to government plans stated the amount of locally produced food. 10,000 ha of arable land with potential
in the Djibouti Vision 2035 strategy According to the Djibouti Vision 2035 access to groundwater, although only
document. strategy document, only about 10% of 1500 ha are currently being cultivated.
local demand of fruits and vegetables However, a government project aims to
There is quite a lot of scope for
expansion. Currently, the sector is is currently secured through domestic increase the number of access points
currently made up of small plots and production. Vegetable, fruit plantations to subterranean water reserves. In 2015
subsistence farming techniques – which and forage to be used for animal fodder, work on the Saday dam was completed
is perhaps no surprise given the arid as well as animal husbandry are some in the Obock region. The project is set to
climate. The government is hoping to of the areas the government is keen to improve collection and storage of water
increase the amount of locally cultivated improve on. resources by mobilising surface water
products and seafood, but also establish Improving Access To Water for drinking, agriculture and livestock
agro-industrial production units to breeding. Construction was financed by
add value to production, with an eye to Water access is one of the key the African Water Facility, the Saudi Fund
exports to Gulf States. constraints the government is looking to for Development and the Djiboutian
overcome. Of a total area of 100,000 ha that government.
Government Strategy could be farmed using surface water, only
In 2009 the Ministry of Agriculture, about 2% is irrigated, according to the
Livestock and Marine Affairs put
together the Master Plan for the Production (tonnes) of some livestock products in Djibouti (2019-2020)
Development of the Primary Sector.
The plan established several goals, Item Year Value Flag Value Flag
including the expansion of the sector’s Fat, camels 2019 46 Im 46 Im
contribution to national GDP, the increase Fat, cattle 2019 227 Im 229 Im
of crop and animal production, as well
as a better exploitation of the country’s Fat, goats 2019 95 Im 95 Im
water resources. This strategy can only Fat, sheep 2019 109 Im 110 Im
be achieved through improved access
to surface and underground water Hides, cattle, fresh 2019 1110 Im 1120 Im
resources, training of human resources Meat, camel 2019 696 Im 699 Im
and improvement of farming techniques, Meat, cattle 2019 6017 Im 6074 Im
as well as better exploitation of rich sea
resources along Djibouti’s shores. Meat, goat 2019 2299 Im 2298 Im
Meat, sheep 2019 2233 Im 2237 Im
Existing government and private
sector support initiatives target the sector Milk, whole fresh camel 2019 6134 Im 6152 Im
for preferential treatment, and have met Milk, whole fresh cow 2019 8842 Im 8848 Im
with some success. Tax exemptions for
fuel used in fishing activities and farmer Offals, edible, camels 2019 117 Im 117 Im
access to agricultural equipment and Offals, edible, cattle 2019 1110 Im 1120 Im
seeds through the participation in sector Offals, edible, goats 2019 465 Im 465 Im
cooperatives help to somewhat mitigate
the difficulties the sector faces. Offals, sheep,edible 2019 433 Im 434 Im
Skins, goat, fresh 2019 465 Im 465 Im
Raising the importance of agriculture
on Djibouti’s economic development Skins, sheep, fresh 2019 433 Im 434 Im
will, nonetheless, have to be balanced Im: FAO data based on imputation methodology | Source: FAO Statistical Division 2021

22 Arab Agriculture 2022