By Abdinur Mohamed Odowa | 1 November 2026

This article asks an important question: can a Somali household build a life based on local production without continually waiting for money from abroad or goods arriving by ship? The answer is yes, to different degrees. But promising that a household or an entire country can do without every imported item is not realistic. What we can build is meaningful self-reliance, resilience and a steadily stronger ability to produce what we need.

Introduction: Do we have to wait for a ship, or can we begin with what we already have?

Imagine a family living in a Somali community. It has a small plot of land, a well or another dependable water source, a few goats and a garden that produces vegetables, beans or another crop suited to the area. The family can obtain part of its food from the farm, get milk or meat from its animals, and sell any surplus to neighbours or at the local market. It does not have everything. It has a foundation on which to build a more secure life.

Now consider another family in a town. It does not own a large farm or livestock, but it has a small yard where it grows vegetables for household use. It also buys some of its food from local farmers and pastoralists. That family is part of the country's production chain even though it is not a full-time farmer.

The question is not whether every person must own a farm, camels and a well. It is how each household, business and community can take part in a system that produces goods locally, processes them locally and brings them to local customers. Farmers grow crops; pastoralists supply milk and meat; fishers bring in fish; technicians repair machinery; and traders connect producers with buyers. National self-reliance is built through that cooperation. It does not mean that every household must produce everything by itself.

1. Why talk about self-reliance now?

Somalia has a long tradition of farming, pastoralism and fishing, but local production still does not meet all the country's needs. When rainfall fails, a river floods or international markets change, the cost of food and animal feed can rise. Households with limited incomes feel those changes especially sharply.

In its Somalia country brief of 15 September 2026, FAO's Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS) described an uncertain outlook for the 2026 Gu harvest because of uneven rainfall and pests. The report said that by mid-June severe drought had affected parts of the cultivated areas in Lower Shabelle, Middle Shabelle and the sorghum-producing areas of Bay. It also noted that shortages of water and pasture had harmed livestock conditions. This shows why farming and livestock alone are not enough: households also need reserves, water planning and ways to manage climate risks.

Self-reliance does not mean cutting ourselves off from international trade. It means reducing dependence on imported essentials that we have the capacity to produce locally, building food reserves, strengthening local production and giving households more than one source of livelihood.

2. Somalia is not one single environment: plans must fit the place where you live

It would be a mistake to give a farmer in the Jubba Valley the same advice as someone living in the drylands of Nugaal or Sanaag. Somalia has very different local conditions. Plans for crops, water and livestock should be based on rainfall, soil, temperature, pasture, water availability and the market in that particular area.

Before buying seed, speak with local farmers, the nearest agricultural office, soil specialists or agricultural extension workers. Ask which crops have performed well over the last three to five seasons, which diseases are common, when planting should take place and who will buy the harvest.

3. A well-planned small farm is more valuable than a large farm that is poorly managed

A Somali woman working on a farm in Afgooye
A Somali farmer working on a farm in Afgooye, 2016. Photo: Gaasle, Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Image details.

Someone who wants to start farming does not need to buy machinery, a pump or a large area of land immediately. A better first step is to understand what the household consumes and what people in the local market are looking for. If your family buys tomatoes, onions, peppers and leafy vegetables every day, a small vegetable plot may reduce part of that expense. If the local market needs beans or sesame, those crops may be added to the plan where soil and water conditions are suitable.

Build the farm plan around five useful groups

  1. Staple food crops: choose a crop that your family or local market genuinely needs, such as sorghum or maize where conditions are suitable.
  2. Protein crops and pulses: some varieties of beans can contribute to household nutrition and may fit into crop rotation, depending on soil conditions.
  3. Vegetables: establish small beds and stagger planting so the household can harvest at different times. Do not plant more than your water supply and available labour can support.
  4. Fruit trees: where there is sufficient water and a suitable permanent site, trial trees adapted to the area. Trees are a long-term investment, not a crop that will repay its cost immediately.
  5. Animal feed: if you keep livestock, consider a crop or grass that can be stored to provide feed during the dry season. Do not assume that every crop residue is a complete animal feed by itself.

You can begin with a small section of land and test two or three crops for one season. Record what you planted, the cost of seed, water and labour, how much you harvested and how much was lost. Once you know which crop performs best, expand gradually. This is less risky than cultivating a large area at once without first collecting local evidence.

4. Water: shallow wells, deep boreholes and the system needed to keep them working

People and livestock at a water catchment in Bakool
People and livestock at a water catchment in Bakool, Somalia. Photo: Vasco Pyjama, Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Image details.

Water determines how much land can be irrigated, how many animals can be kept and how long a family can maintain its livelihood in one place. A well should therefore not be treated as a drilling project alone. It is a complete system involving assessment, construction, a pump, storage tank, pipes, hygiene, maintenance, management and recurring costs.

Shallow wells: when might they be suitable?

In areas where groundwater is close to the surface, a hand-dug or shallow well may cost less than a deep borehole. However, groundwater depth varies by location and season. A shallow well may yield less water during drought and can be vulnerable to contamination from the surface if it is not properly constructed and protected.

Protect shallow wells from contaminated runoff, animal waste and other pollution. Cover the well opening and improve the surrounding area so dirty water cannot drain back into the well. Drinking water should be tested by a qualified laboratory and treated appropriately where necessary.

Deep boreholes: greater depth does not guarantee better water

A deep borehole may be necessary in places where groundwater is deeper. But do not drill simply because someone recommends it or because a neighbour has a deep well. Before making the decision, obtain a hydrogeological assessment from someone qualified in groundwater. The assessment should address where the water is located, its quality, how much can be withdrawn sustainably and the risk of salinity.

After drilling, a pumping test should be carried out to understand how the water level responds during pumping and how quickly it recovers. A powerful pump that produces a large volume does not prove that the underground reserve can sustain that rate. If water is extracted faster than the aquifer can recover, the well may weaken and salinity may increase.

Not all water is safe to drink

Well water should be tested for drinking-water quality, salinity and bacterial contamination. Water that is acceptable for livestock or irrigation is not necessarily safe for people to drink. Highly saline water can damage some crops and affect the soil, even when plants initially appear to grow.

Prepare a water budget

A household or community should record how much water is needed each day for drinking and hygiene, livestock, farming and other services. Basic human drinking-water and hygiene needs must come first. Farming should be expanded only after it is confirmed that a sustainable surplus of water is available.

For a community well, establish a water committee that records pump operating hours, the amount of water distributed, electricity or maintenance costs and money set aside for repairs. A storage tank, a meter or another way of measuring consumption, and a maintenance schedule can reduce disputes and waste.

5. Solar energy: it can reduce costs, but it does not eliminate maintenance

In many parts of Somalia, sunlight is an available energy resource. A solar-powered water pump can reduce fuel costs, especially where grid electricity is unavailable or expensive. However, a solar installation needs proper technical design: pump capacity, panel output, water storage, equipment protection, cables and maintenance all matter.

Do not buy the most powerful pump before finding out how much water the well can sustainably provide. Solar systems are not completely independent of outside supply chains either: panels, controllers, inverters, pumps and some replacement parts may still come from overseas markets. The installer should explain who can maintain the system locally, where replacement parts can be obtained and how annual maintenance costs will be covered.

6. Livestock: manage camels, goats and cattle as productive assets

Camels at a watering place near Luuq on the Jubba River
Camels at a watering place near Luuq on the Jubba River. Photo: Hiram A. Ruiz, Library of Congress collection, Public Domain Mark. Image details.

Livestock is a major asset for many households. Camels provide milk, meat and income; goats provide milk, meat and offspring; and cattle can suit areas with adequate water and feed. But herd size must match the available land, water and feed. Keeping more animals than the environment can support can damage pasture, animal health and the household economy.

Do not start with herd size; start with a plan

Before buying more animals, record how much water is available in both the rainy and dry seasons, how much pasture or feed you have and what animal-health care will cost. Plan herd size around the most difficult season, not only the rainy season when pasture is abundant.

A household with goats can retain healthy breeding animals, keep records of births and animal health, and sell animals at an appropriate time when costs rise. A camel-owning household can estimate how much milk the family uses and how much can be sold hygienically. A household with cattle must make sure it can provide enough grass, water and suitable crop residues, especially during the dry season.

Animal health is part of self-reliance

Animals that do not receive appropriate vaccination, care and feed can lose both productivity and value. Contact a veterinarian or trained animal-health worker to identify vaccinations suitable for the area, seasonal diseases and treatment schedules. Sick animals should be separated appropriately from others, and water and feed containers should be kept clean. Do not give medicine based on a dose used for another animal; the medicine and dosage should follow professional advice.

7. Animal feed: store it when it is available instead of waiting for drought

Many households start looking for animal feed only after pasture has disappeared. This can force them to buy feed at high prices or sell livestock when market prices are low. A better approach is to begin building feed reserves during the rainy season or when crops are harvested.

Feed storage cannot stop drought, but it can give a household time to plan and reduce distress sales of livestock when market conditions are poor.

8. Let farming and livestock work as one connected system

Farms and livestock can support each other. Properly stored and prepared animal manure can contribute to soil fertility. Suitable crop residues can form part of animal feed. Rotating different crops can reduce the risk of exhausting the soil by repeatedly growing the same crop.

For example, a farmer in a suitable area may grow maize in one season and add beans in another. Some crop residues can be stored for livestock, while animal manure can be used to improve the soil. But not every crop residue should automatically be fed to animals, and fresh manure should not be applied carelessly to every crop. The right approach depends on crop type, animal health and soil conditions.

It is also important to protect fields from roaming livestock. A simple fence, boundary trees or a local agreement for controlling animal movement can prevent animals from eating young trees or damaging crops.

9. Food storage and local processing: do not lose the harvest after it leaves the field

A harvest that is not stored properly can become a loss. Crops should be dried appropriately and placed in clean containers or stores that keep out insects and rodents. They must be protected from moisture. A household should separate what it will eat, what it will save as seed for the next season where the variety is suitable, and what it will sell.

Local businesses and cooperatives can create services that add value to production: milling maize and sorghum, processing sesame, providing cold storage for milk and fish, and packaging vegetables. These services create jobs, reduce losses and keep more money circulating within the community.

Milk production must be combined with hygiene and appropriate cooling. Milk that is not stored safely can create health risks. Fish and meat also need proper hygiene, temperature control and transport. Processing goods locally must never mean lowering food quality or safety.

10. A practical example: a household starting small

This is an illustrative plan, not a promise of a particular harvest or fixed cost. A household in a place where tested water, a small plot and family labour are available could take the following steps:

  1. Start by measuring: record the food the household consumes each week, what it spends on vegetables, grains and milk, what water it has and what it buys locally.
  2. Check the basics: obtain advice about the soil and water. If a new well is needed, seek a professional assessment before drilling.
  3. Run a small farm trial: establish vegetable beds and a small plot of a crop suited to the area. Record water use and costs.
  4. Plan livestock: if the household keeps animals, check that herd size matches pasture and feed availability. Work with an animal-health worker on disease prevention.
  5. Store the harvest: when crops are ready, divide them between household food, animal feed, reserves and sales. Prepare a clean, dry storage place.
  6. Review the results: at the end of the season, compare costs, production, losses and what the household still had to buy. Expand only what has clearly worked.

This plan can be followed at different scales. A beginner does not need to drill a deep borehole or buy many animals. They may start with a home garden, a few trees, a shared water system or regular purchases from nearby local farmers.

11. Communities that share wells, equipment and knowledge can achieve more than a household acting alone

A well, pump, store, milling machine or lorry may be beyond the means of one household. A group of farmers or pastoralists can share these services if they have a clear agreement. The agreement should state who owns the equipment, who manages it, how costs are divided, who carries out repairs and how disputes will be resolved.

There is an example of this approach in Somalia. In its 8 May 2026 report on the Barwaaqo project, the World Bank said the project was supporting more than 600,000 people, had built or rehabilitated 40 water points, supported nearly 70,000 farmers through Farmer Field Schools and treated more than 630,000 livestock. The report also noted that women made up 31% of the community animal-health workers trained. This illustrates how water, farming, livestock and community skills can be connected instead of handled as separate activities.

Communities can learn from this approach. When a well is rehabilitated, the same location should have a water-management plan, fodder arrangements, animal-health services and a small farm suited to local conditions. A well can stop working if nobody is responsible for its maintenance. Water that is available but not linked to a production plan can become a lost economic opportunity.

12. Remittances and external support: use them to create productive capacity

Money sent from abroad is important to many Somali households. It pays for rent, education, healthcare and other needs. The answer is not to stop remittances or reject outside support. But where a household or community has the opportunity to turn part of that money into a productive asset, it can create income that lasts.

For example, rather than spending all incoming money on immediate consumption, a family may set aside a planned portion to invest in fruit trees, farm equipment, a fodder store or a share in a community well. Investment should take place only after checking water availability, the market, maintenance costs and who will manage the asset. A well or farm without a functioning management system can turn into debt and loss.

A local entrepreneur can also invest in crop milling, milk cooling, transport for farm produce or fish marketing. These businesses support farmers and pastoralists while creating a domestic economic chain.

13. What can prevent people from building self-reliance?

We must speak honestly about the barriers. They include droughts, floods, saline water, livestock diseases, poor-quality seed, bad roads, expensive electricity, unstable markets and a lack of technical services in some places. Some equipment, medicines, machinery and spare parts are still imported.

FAO's 2026 reporting shows how irregular rainfall can reduce harvests and pasture. Anyone seeking greater self-reliance should therefore avoid depending on a single rainy season or one source of income. They need reserves, a drought plan, crop diversity, sustainable water use and early information about risks.

It is also important not to convince people that drilling a well or planting a field alone guarantees a good livelihood. Management, technical knowledge, healthcare, markets and careful accounting are all needed. Without them, a project can fail even after money has been invested.

14. A 90-day action plan: practical steps that can be started

An individual or group can begin with a plan in three stages. The actual planting dates must be adjusted to the local rainy season and advice from people who know the area.

Days 1–15: collect information and make a plan

Days 16–45: run a small trial

Days 46–90: measure, improve and then expand

15. How can a household or community know whether it is making progress?

Self-reliance should be measured, not simply claimed. Each month a household or cooperative can record a few indicators:

If these figures improve from month to month, that is measurable progress. If a well produces a lot of water but there is no money for repairs, or a large field is planted but the crop is lost, that is not sustainable self-reliance.

16. Is 100% independence from outside supply possible?

It is important not to confuse self-reliance with isolation. A Somali household can produce much of its own food, milk, meat, vegetables and crops. It can use local knowledge, solar energy and community cooperation. But it may still need specialised medicines, equipment, machine parts, medical supplies, technology and other goods that are not made locally.

Even countries with high levels of domestic production trade with other countries. The right goal is therefore not for Somalia to import nothing. It is to ensure that food and basic needs are less vulnerable to disruptions in shipping, international prices or money coming from abroad.

There is also no single person who can provide everything alone. A farmer may need a technician; a pastoralist may need a veterinarian; a fisher may need cold storage; and all of them need access to a market. National self-reliance means connecting and supporting these people so that domestic needs can be met as far as the country's capacity allows.

Conclusion: National capacity begins with individual action and community cooperation

Somalia is not starting from zero. We have pastoralists who understand their environment, farmers who know their soils and seasons, fishers who know the sea, traders who connect markets and young people who can learn skills in water systems, agriculture, energy and storage. These capabilities need to be brought together.

A person with a small plot can start a farm trial. Someone with livestock can begin by matching herd size to pasture and feed. A community can share the cost of a well and a store. An entrepreneur can start with processing or transporting local produce. A town resident can contribute by buying locally produced goods, growing a home garden or supporting a trustworthy local business.

External support and remittances are welcome, but part of them should build capacity that remains in the country. If money helps build a well today, there must also be a committee to maintain it. If a farm is financed, it needs a market and storage. If livestock is purchased, it needs feed, water and healthcare. If equipment is imported, someone should be trained to maintain it locally.

My message to readers is this: let us not wait for everything to arrive from outside, but let us also not ignore real challenges. Let us start with what we have, learn what we do not yet know, share what we can and build production that can last. Self-reliance does not mean taking nothing from anyone; it means not losing the ability to produce for ourselves.

Sources and references

Note: The household examples and 90-day plan are educational illustrations, not guarantees of production, profit or fixed costs. Farming and well construction should be based on local information and qualified technical advice.