As residents of central and southern regions are fleeing drought, Isak Ibrahim stays put in his home village Bonkai.
Although crops have failed across the country due to two successive seasons of drought, locals are still harvesting vegetables and fruits in the fields surrounding the southern village.
"We now have pawpaw, simsim, tomatoes, maize, beans, lemon, watermelon and onions,” Isak says, proudly listing their harvested crops.
The 37-year-old father of seven is one of many farmers supported by a Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) agriculture and irrigation project.
Designed to strengthen the local community’s food reserves, the Department for International Development (DfID) funded project aims to sustainably enhance food security and improve income for farmers in Baidoa.
I have observed that Somali people can contribute to social cohesion and collaboration, irrespective of our clan and socio-economic differences.Isak Ibrahim, Somalian farmer.
Farmers are also trained to tackle diseases that often damage their crops.
“When crops matured, birds and rats become nuisance, but we now know how to handle them better,” says Isak.
Collaboration and self-reliance
Isak explains that the project has united people in his community.
"I have observed that Somali people can contribute to social cohesion and collaboration, irrespective of our clan and socio-economic differences," he says.
Until now, a borehole and several irrigation systems have kept Bonkai’s residents from leaving their village. But the overbearing drought has disrupted the next cycle of crop planting.
As a result, the borehole well is currently being used to save the lives of both Bonkai’s people and their livestock.
The borehole well has also attracted 2,100 people that have fled the drought from nearby villages, resulting in a swelling water demand.
“Water that would have been used for irrigation is being provided to community members and displaced people for domestic use,” Isak explains.
Looking ahead
"Sometimes it gets cloudy, and this reduces the pump´s ability to pump water, which relies on solar energy,” he says.
Isak hopes that his community one day will have a diesel-powered generator to supplement the solar pump. The generator would be used to pump water at night, while the solar pump draws water during the day.
This will strengthen the community´s resilience against drought, according to Isak.
If his wish is granted, farmers can continue to sell their produce at the local market.
