Page 44 - AA 2022 YEAR BOOK

Somalia

and facilities like the Desert Locust In a bid to save lives and livelihoods laws that will ensure Somalia is well
Monitoring Centre mean that we are not in the already fragile context, FAO, protected against such pests. Part of
just responding in the present, but have along with government partners, has these efforts include the formation of
the capacity to manage these crises in been implementing desert locust Somali Agriculture Regulator Inspection
the future as well,” said His Excellency control operations which included air Services (SARIS) as well as National
Abdullai Deni, President of Puntland and ground control and surveillance Desert Locust Unit (NDLU) which are
State after the official opening of the to combat the invasive pest as well as directly under my ministry,” said Hon.
Centre, which was followed by meetings programmes aimed at sustaining the Said Hussein Id, Minister for Agriculture
in Qardho town. livelihoods of affected communities. and Irrigation, the Federal Government
The newly established centre continues of Somalia. “The Government is grateful
Collaboration efforts by that collaborative effort, helping the to FAO and other partners for the
FAO and the Government Government of Somalia to lead in the support they have provided to make
this possible; including the construction
management of the crisis, and ensuring
of Somalia they are better prepared for such of this centre as well as the continued
FAO had been progressively working challenges in the future. support in training the ministry staff and
with the Government of Somalia to “The Government of Somalia has supporting the control operations,” he
control the spread of and devastation made control of the desert locust as said.
caused by the desert locust since it well as other invasive species their
started appearing in alarming numbers number one priority. The Government is A hub for Somalia’s desert
across the Horn of Africa two years ago. in the process of enacting the required locust control operations
Somalia is one of the countries to have
Production (tonnes) of some agricultural commodities in made huge gains in suppressing one
Somalia (2019-2020) of the largest desert locust upsurges in
living memory. Facilities such as these
will help with any resurgence that
Item Value Flag Value Flag
climatic conditions might trigger – and
Bananas 23121 Im 23025 Im surveillance and control operations
must be maintained at scale, with the
Beans, dry 26238 Im 26323 Im Government taking the leading role.
Cassava 95019 Im 94618 Im “We want to make sure that, with
collaboration of the Government, Somalia
Coconuts 11000 * 11660 Im
has the institutional and technical
Dates 13615 Im 13572 Im capacities required to handle and
manage pesticides, and monitor desert
Fruit, fresh nes 144524 Im 145160 Im
locust movements as well as to carry out
Grapefruit (inc. pomelos) 5958 Im 5885 Im aerial control for effective desert locust
management across the country. This
Groundnuts, with shell 8184 Im 8209 Im
centre will act as a hub for all desert
Lemons and limes 8000 Im 8034 Im locust control operations now and in the
Maize 57000 * 75000 * future,” said Etienne Peterschmitt, FAO
Country Representative for Somalia.
Mangoes, mangosteens, guavas 1200 F 1209 Im
“Over the past year alone, the failed
Onions, dry 5683 Im 5676 Im rains, severe floods and locust swarms
have destroyed crops and livelihoods.
Oranges 10883 Im 10968 Im
We are pleased that this centre will act
Rice, paddy 1285 Im 1183 Im as a hub for control operations of the
desert locust in Somalia, and the UK is
Rice, paddy (rice milled equivalent) 857 Fc 789 Fc
glad to be supporting it,” said Damon
Seed cotton 7133 Im 7163 Im Bristow, UK’s Development Director. “The
Sesame seed 36000 * 33568 Im UK is also hosting COP26 – and we will
be keeping the region’s climate needs
Sorghum 125000 * 100000 * front and centre. We are committed to
Sugar cane 233000 F 228000 Im support Somalia and Somalis to tackle
this threat.”
Sweet potatoes 8410 Im 8385 Im
“The United States is committed
Tobacco, unmanufactured 143 Im 144 Im to supporting the people and the
Government of Somalia to mitigate the
Tomatoes 23277 Im 23210 Im
impacts of desert locusts. Establishing
Vegetables, fresh nes 75728 Im 75374 Im this permanent institution to monitor
and control desert locust operations
Watermelons 6572 Im 6495 Im
is crucial to help promote recovery
Wheat 1040 Im 1043 Im and restoration of food security and
livelihoods, not only for Somalis but for
* : Unoff cial f gure | F : FAO estimate | Fc : Calculated data
Im: FAO data based on imputation methodology | Source: FAO Statistical Division 2021 the whole region,” said Patrick Diskin,
USAID Somalia Mission Director.
42 Arab Agriculture 2022