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Host and refugee communities become self sufficient together

The Dolo Ado area of Somali region in Ethiopia plays host to thousands of refugees from Somalia, who cross borders to escape conflict and food shortages. But this area is already suffering severe water shortages and degradation of farming land as a result of climate change.

The additional pressure has made both host and refugee populations dependent on food aid, as well causing heightened tension between the communities.

Aiming to support both groups in addressing their shared problems, Farm Africa’s Livelihood and Resilience Building project is supporting communities to come together and set up irrigation cooperatives. Farm Africa is then delivering training to the cooperatives in how to manage their land during hot spells.

The Hormud Cooperative has already seen great success. They welcome host and refugee communities in equal number and its members have become self-sufficient as a result of their willingness to work together.

The group was allocated a plot of common farmland and worked with the project team to build temporary solar-powered irrigation canals to grow crops – recently they were delighted to harvest maize and watermelons!

“The start is very encouraging. We are excited with the maize we have produced through irrigation,” said Sheik Abdikadir, a member of the Hormud Cooperative.

“The project backed us to build our own temporary irrigation canal and gave us a pump to draw water to our farm from the Genale River.”

As well as providing a solar pump and other resources, the project also links cooperatives to seed suppliers and buyers for their produce.

The Hormud members were able to use their first harvest to feed their families and reduce their reliance on food aid. On top of that they each earned £110 from the sale of their maize. We think that’s quite an a-maizing start!

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