Mogadishu: I spent Eid-ul-Adha 2024 in #Adado, in #Somalia‘s Galmudug State, and was impressed by the contributions of the diaspora and local investors who have established thriving camel farms around the city.
The farms play a crucial role in the regional economy, supplying meat and milk to various towns within #Galmudug and exporting camels to the #Arab Gulf states.
Each farm is equipped with significant water storage, filled from nearby wells, and employs 3-5 full-time workers. They also operate 1-2 vans dedicated to the daily transportation of milk.
Camels are milked at least three times a day—in the evening, at dawn, and around 7 AM—ensuring a continuous and plentiful supply of milk to different towns in the region. In the local market, a liter of fresh camel milk sells for 1-2 USD.
During normal months, the camels graze freely and require only water. However, in dry seasons, farm owners must purchase fodder and grain to feed the animals. This innovative approach to addressing changing weather patterns enhances the farmers’ resilience.
A significant challenge remains the lack of quality fodder and the need for better markets for their products, particularly the meat.
To address this, I challenged the investors—some of them to specialize in feed production while others to consider forming partnerships with GCC counterparts to establish meat processing plants within #Somalia.
Such an initiative could create jobs, improve infrastructure, and enhance the market positioning of Somali meat products globally.
With the right business model and tools, these entrepreneurs could immensely contribute to Somalia’s real economy.
Among the challenges are the lack of financial infrastructure to support business development, the low awareness and knowledge of the community and the effects of the wars that are still present.
