|
Introduction The livestock sector is the
mainstay of the economy in Somalia. Available data
suggests that the sector accounted for up to 80% of
the country’s total annual export earnings before
the civil war. Livestock and livestock products
(meat, milk and ghee) are the main sources of income
and family food security for pastoral and
agro-pastoral households that comprise the majority
of the country’s population. The economy is heavily
dependent on the sale of livestock for export to
Middle East markets and the cross-border trade in
livestock between Somalia and Kenya at Garissa
Market that is emerging as an important source of
livelihoods for various population categories in
Southern Somalia. The extensive pastoral livestock
production in Somalia is a market-integrated
commercial system that also provides for the
subsistence needs of the pastoralists.
The Livestock Working Group
The Livestock Working Group (LWG) under the
umbrella of the Food Security and Rural Development
Sectoral Committee (FSRDSC) of the Somali Aid
Coordination Body (SACB) was established in 1998
with the aim of addressing some of the fundamental
issues affecting the Somali livestock sector through
in depth technical discussions, information sharing
and improved coordination of project interventions.
Current support to the livestock sector encompasses
improved animal health, improved marketing and
trade, continuous education of livestock
professionals, capacity building of public and
private Somali livestock sector institutions,
improved mass education and awareness creation among
all livestock sector stakeholders, improved animal
production and irrigated fodder production among
others (detailed information on livestock sector
projects can be found on the SACB website under the
Matrix (Database) link).
Meeting once every month, the Livestock Working
Group will:
-
Focus on the support
needed for the future development of the Somali
livestock sector taking into account its
increasing trade-oriented nature and the need to
conform to international norms and standards for
the safe participation in the export trade in
livestock and livestock products.
-
Share information
that relates to food security through situation
reports on rainfall, availability of forage,
migration patterns and the transboundary
movements of livestock, animal health and trade
in livestock and livestock products.
-
Serve as a forum for
presentations and discussions to provide updates
on various thematic approaches and new
initiatives involving the Somali livestock
sector in order to enhance Coordination at the
projects level.
Focus for 2005
The focus for LWG in 2005 will be to review the
state of progress towards the attainment of each of
the four pillars identified in the FAO/World
Bank/European commission Livestock Sector Strategy
for Somalia (January 2004) in order to enhance
pragmatic implementation and improved sector
coordination. These are
-
Animal production
-
Animal health and
disease control
-
Livestock marketing
and trade
-
Human resources
capacity building and institutional
strengthening.
Emphasis will be on the development of mechanisms
for closer linkages and collaboration with existing
and emergent Somali authorities for effective
coordination. |
