Farmers in Middle Shabelle’s regional capital Jowhar have joined together to repair a key irrigation canal ahead of the coming Deyr rains.
They fear they may be hit again by floods if heavy rains fall and the river swells and bursts its banks. They hope to repair the canal so that their crops benefit from the rain rather than being destroyed by it.
Abdikadir Salah, head of Moyko Canal, a major water supply canal for irrigation, explains to Ergo how the preparation work at the canal is shaping up.
“The canal was badly damaged by previous heavy floods and torrential rains,” Salah said.
“The farmers decided to depend on themselves rather than appeal for help that often doesn’t arrive. We’ll continue working on the canal until it is fully prepared for the rains.”
The Moyko canal feeds water to over 500 farms in Jowhar.
Women and men have been working together. Madina Abdullahi, one of the female farmers participating in the canal work, said she was taking part in the preparation work so that her farm, her only source of income, could be well irrigated when the rains arrives.
“We are getting prepared for Deyr season. We are not waiting for others to come and repair the canal for us,” said Madina.
Twenty five hectares of farm lands were destroyed this month [September] when the River Shabelle burst its banks in Jameo village near Jowhar district.
One of the affected farm owners, Jama Haddi, said they lost their entire livelihood in the floods.
Local farmers in this areas largely depend on water from the river for their irrigation activities and have been hit numerous times by heavy rains followed by river floods.
