25/08/2026
Increasingly extreme weather caused by climate change is making farming in Somalia increasingly difficult each year.
In Busley village in Dollow district, Gabay Yussuf has experienced this first-hand. Poor soil, pests, crop diseases, and scarce water often left her farm producing barely enough to feed her family. Seasonal droughts and flash floods destroyed what little she could grow.
Like many farmers in the area, Gabay did not lack determination or skill. What she lacked were reliable seeds, the right tools, and practical training suited to the changing climate. This reality is shared by many Somali families.
With support from Irish Aid, Trócaire and local partner Nomadic Assistance for Peace and Development-NAPAD provided 150 farmers, including Gabay, with drought-tolerant seeds such as maize, cowpeas, watermelon, and coriander, along with essential farming tools.
Farmers also received practical agroecology training on improving soil, rotating crops, composting and using natural methods to manage pests.
The impact has been significant.
Where Gabay previously harvested 4 to 5 sacks of maize, she harvested 14 sacks from the same land in the most recent season.
Her family now has more reliable access to food, and she is better prepared for difficult weather conditions.
Gabay and her daughter, Isnina, are sharing what they have learned with neighbours. As
more farmers adopt these approaches, crop yields are improving across the community.
Thanks to this programme, Gabay and other farmers are turning knowledge and effort into better harvests, creating more stable livelihoods for their families and increasing food production in their communities.
