The ministry of Agricultural development of the republic of Somaliland has pledged to increase food production in the country.
The director general of the ministry of Agricultural development while speaking at a stakeholders event in Hargeisa, said the government intends to work with farmers by offering seedlings to boost, propping and pepping up the agricultural sector in the country.
Agriculture is an important economic activity in Somaliland not only in terms of meeting the food needs of the population but also in terms of generating income through crop sales and agricultural labor opportunities.
The ministry of agricultural development of the republic of Somaliland has pledged to work with farmers by offering seedlings to boost, propping and pepping up the agricultural sector in the country.
Speaking when he met key food system stakeholders at a meeting in Hargeisa, The director general of the ministry of agricultural development assured farmers and other partners in the agribusiness, that his ministry is working towards increasing food production in the country.
Dr Mohammed Ali Maah, the director general of the ministry of agricultural development said crop agriculture which is currently an underdeveloped, could offer considerable potential, both in cereal and horticultural production.
The ministry of Agricultural development pledged to work towards mechanizing Somaliland’s agriculture, rehabilitation of irrigation schemes, water catchments, feeder roads and promoting seed production systems through enabling access to improved germplasm among several other activities.
‘As you all know if people want to develop it must of all get food that is secure and meet the food needs of its population. Following that philosophy the ministry of agricultural development in collaboration with our partners is working towards ensuring a food secure Somaliland,” said Dr Mohammed Ali Maah.
The director added that “We have regulated seedlings coming to the country for the last two years and this has significantly reduced Plant Diseases”.
The government also promised to establish an agricultural seeds lab with the intention of analyzing seedlings before they are given to farmers.
The government’s pledge comes two weeks after the United Nations expert panel in Somalia including Somaliland released its report in 2019 accusing the Somaliland Ministry of Agriculture of blocking efforts by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to bring much-needed seedlings to farmers in Somaliland who say the drought has affected food production.
In January 2018, FAO launched a platform to deliver 10,000 tonnes of seeds that were planned to be delivered in May 2018.
In February 2018, the FAO selected 20 agricultural businesses to import the necessary products, which it approved. Somaliland Ministry of Agriculture however has refused to grant import licenses to all businesses except one.
By admin
November 20, 2019
