Page 43 - FULL YEAR BOOK 2021

Somalia

PROTECTING LIVESTOCK AND PASTORAL LIVELIHOODS

IN SOMALIA DURING COVID-19

while FAO was launching its annual particularly assisted the most vulnerable to protect and strengthen Somalia’s
livestock vaccination and treatment households, which tend to mainly keep livestock sector and food security. FAO
campaign with various government goats. On average, vaccination against further supports the Government and
institutions across Somalia, nobody CCPP costs USD 0.40. The cost of local communities in strengthening
could imagine the rollercoaster of a year replacing a dead animal because of the animal health surveillance, animal
that 2020 would become. COVID-19, disease ranges from USD 40 to 50. “So, it production and the development of a
floods and insecurity were unknowingly is fair to say that vaccinating goats and solid and resilient value chain, including
set to complicate the implementation sheep is around 100-times more cost- activities such as beekeeping, fodder
of this animal health campaign, effective than replacing a lost asset,” production and capacity development
while the country was on the cusp of says Dr Khalid. Importantly, the animals in marketing.
declaring a national emergency due to saved thanks to these campaigns are the
the worst desert locust upsurge in 25 main source of food and income for poor Covid-19, floods
years. Nevertheless, vaccinations and pastoral families. This includes the daily
treatments could not be postponed or milk supply, which is especially vital for and insecurity
delayed. Protecting livestock is key not the nutrition and well-being of children
only for Somalia’s fragile food security, and lactating mothers.
but also “imperative for an economy The animal health campaign was
that largely depends on livestock, Livestock in the already underway in many areas when
especially when approaching the Holy COVID-19 emerged in mid-March
month of Ramadan and Pilgrimage” Somali economy in Somalia. FAO quickly adapted
says Dr Khalid Saeed, Livestock Sector its operations to take all necessary
Coordinator for FAO in Somalia. precautions and preventive measures,
One hundred times more cost- The export of livestock and livestock following World Health Organization
effective products, as well as local high and Government COVID-19 guidelines,
The campaign focused on contagious consumption, plays an important role and so managed to carry on with the
countrywide campaign. The challenge
in the country’s economy. Every year,
caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP), Somalia exports two to three million was not only ensuring that everybody
a disease that severely affects the animals to countries like Oman, Saudi would wear protective gear but also
productivity and survival of goats, with Arabia, United Arab Emirates and coming up with imaginative ways
a high mortality rate. Funded by USAID, Yemen, in addition to the significant to respect social distancing while
the European Union (ECHO), UKAID/ cross-border trade with Kenya. vaccinating a large number of goats.
DFID and Germany, the vaccination Livestock is estimated to account for
and treatment campaign’s main aim roughly 40 percent of Somalia’s GDP and Heavy rains and floods in April,
– for both CCPP and other diseases – involves, directly and indirectly, as much during Somalia’s Gu season, added an
was to protect the remaining livestock as 60 percent of the workforce. Annual extra layer of difficulty in completing the
of many rural Somalis, following the countrywide treatment and vaccination vaccination and treatment campaign.
2016-17 drought crisis and other campaigns are therefore fundamental Floods across the country displaced
severe climate shocks. The campaign more than 400 000 people, according

Crop Production in Somalia
2017 2018
Area Area
Item Yield (Hg/ Production Yield (Hg/ Production
harvested Flag Flag Flag harvested Flag Flag Flag
Ha) (tonnes) Ha) (tonnes)
(Ha) (Ha)
Bananas 1257 Im 170452 Fc 21430 Im 1226 Im 170478 Fc 20905 Im
Dates 2664 Im 51172 Fc 13631 Im 2666 Im 51715 Fc 13785 Im
Fruit, fresh nes 12994 Im 109569 Fc 142372 Im 12975 Im 110258 Fc 143063 Im
Lemons and limes 1298 Im 61111 Fc 7930 Im 1312 Im 60682 Fc 7960 Im
Maize 100000 F 6500 Fc 65000 F 92920 Im 14929 Fc 138716 Im
Rice, paddy 303 Im 48691 Fc 1475 Im 979 Im 48691 Fc 4766 Im
Watermelons 647 Im 96462 Fc 6244 Im 633 Im 96367 Fc 6105 Im
Wheat 2584 Im 3982 Fc 1029 Im 2586 Im 3994 Fc 1033 Im
Fc, Calculated data|| F, FAO estimate Source: FAO Statistical Division 2019
Im, FAO data based on imputation methodology
Arab Agriculture 2021 41

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