Page 43 - AA 2022 YEAR BOOK

Somalia

FAO AND GOVERNMENT OF SOMALIA OPEN

PERMANENT DESERT LOCUST MONITORING CENTRE

The Centre will build Somalia’s national capacity to independently
manage desert locusts in the country.
His Excellency, the President of Agency for International Development
Puntland State, Mr Said Abdullahi Dani, (USAID) through two projects in support
and Food and Agriculture Organization of the desert locust response to mitigate
of the United Nations (FAO) Somalia impacts of desert locusts on food
Country Representative, Mr Etienne security and livelihoods in the region.
Peterschmitt, have opened the National The two resource partners have been
Desert Locust Monitoring and Control supporting desert locust survey and
Centre in Somalia. The Centre, which control activities as well as supporting
was opened on 3 November 2021 and the livelihoods of communities affected
is based in Qardho, Bari Region, will not by the desert locust upsurge.
only serve Puntland but will also act as The worst desert locust crisis in
the National Desert Locust Early Warning decades hit the Greater Horn of Africa
and Control base. The construction of in late 2019, where tens of thousands of food security is already fragile with
the centre was implemented by FAO and hectares of cropland and pasture have Somalia one of the worst hit countries. In
generously funded by the UK Foreign, been damaged. The invasion has had Somalia, where vast majority of people
Commonwealth and Development severe consequences for agriculture- depend on agriculture and livestock
Office (FCDO) and United States based livelihoods in contexts where for their livelihoods, recurrent drought
and floods have resulted in significant
impacts on household food security, and
Production (tonnes) of some livestock products in Somalia the desert locust crisis has exacerbated
(2019-2020) the crisis, increasing the severity of the
threat to rural families.
Item Value Flag Value Flag The opening of the Centre was
Eggs, hen, in shell 2644 Im 2658 Im commissioned by the President of
Puntland State of Somalia, His Excellency
Eggs, hen, in shell 66097 Im 66456 Im Said Abdullahi Deni and the Federal
Fat, camels 2547 Im 2565 Im Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation,
Hon. Said Hussein Iid. Also present at
Fat, cattle 2026 Im 1989 Im the ceremony was FAO’s Representative
Fat, goats 626 Im 629 Im in Somalia, Mr Etienne Peterschmitt;
the Acting Minister of Environment,
Fat, sheep 1424 Im 1431 Im Agriculture and Climate Change of
Hides, cattle, fresh 10366 Im 10181 Im Puntland, Hon. Abdirashid Ali Gelle;
the Minister of Agriculture, Plant and
Meat, camel 47886 Im 48224 Im Forestry of Galmudug, Hon. Ahmednoor
Meat, cattle 56000 F 55000 F Hajji Osman; the Minister of Agriculture
and Irrigation of Hirshabelle, Hon.
Meat, chicken 3860 Im 3886 Im Mohamed Omar Aymooy; the Minister
Meat, goat 39143 Im 39321 Im of Agriculture and Irrigation of South
West State, Hon. Mustaf Ahmed Idow;
Meat, sheep 47469 Im 47712 Im the Karkaar Regional Governor of
Milk, whole fresh camel 966055 Im 968615 Im Puntland, Hon. Abdi Said Osman; the
Mayor of Qardho, Hon. Mohamed Farah
Milk, whole fresh cow 454134 Im 456309 Im Abdi; the Director of the Desert Locust
Milk, whole fresh goat 377838 Im 377742 Im Control Organization for Eastern Africa
(DLCO-EA), Dr Stephen, and the acting
Milk, whole fresh sheep 407602 Im 406541 Im Executive Chairman of DLCO, Collins
Offals, edible, camels 8456 Im 8516 Im Murangu.
“The desert locust situation has
Offals, edible, cattle 10843 Im 10649 Im
taken its toll on our communities. It
Offals, edible, goats 4541 Im 4561 Im has negatively affected livelihoods
and human and animal health across
Offals, sheep,edible 9114 Im 9161 Im
the region. With the support of our
Skins, goat, fresh 6028 Im 6055 Im international partners, the USA and the
Skins, sheep, fresh 9114 Im 9161 Im UK, we are determined to continue our
efforts to control and monitor the desert
Im: FAO data based on imputation methodology | F : FAO estimate | Source: FAO Statistical Division 2021 locust situation. Resources, training

Arab Agriculture 2022 41