Tuesday May 22, 2018
(ERGO) – Pastoralist families in Galgadud region who
lost their livestock in the drought have started restocking their
herds, bringing the livestock markets in this part of Somalia back to
life.
In Guriel market, Hassan Mohamud Jama sold his last remaining camel
for $500. He used the money to buy 20 goats, hoping to make a fresh
start for himself and his 16-member family after months of hardship.
“We lost 370 goats and camels in the drought,” Hassan told Radio
Ergo, who keeps his goats at Biyo-Gaduud, 37 km south of Guri’el.
“Life in the rural areas is unbearable without livestock because the
livestock provide us the lifeline we need including meat and milk. Now
the long awaited rains have resumed I plan to work hard and dedicate my
time to re-establishing this livelihood,” he said.
The family split up during the drought, after Hassan’s wife died,
with eight of his children sent to stay with relatives in Guriel earlier
this year and the other children left in the village relying on food
from their neighbours.
Hassan hopes to bring the family together again once the new herd starts to become productive.
Livestock brokers in Dusamareeb told Radio Ergo that scores of
pastoralist families have been visiting the markets to buys and sell.
Most of the transactions are livestock bought for domestic rearing.
Mohamed Hassan Nur, a broker in Guriel, said some families are in
need of quick cash to buy food. They are bringing their animals to the
market for export or domestic sale. He estimated an average of 10
customers per day was each buying around 100 goats to take them back to
the rural areas. The prices of goats range from $20 to $35 in the
region.
Mohamed Salaad, who lives in Benyo-ad 22 km southeast of Guriel, lost
150 goats and camels in the drought. On 12 May, he sold his 10 of his
surviving healthier goats that for $380. He topped up with a $450 loan
from his relative and bought 40 younger goats for $830. He plans to
restock his herd.
Mohamed, a father of six, told Radio Ergo there were many destitute
families roaming around the rural areas in search of people to give them
a few livestock to restart their way of life.