Irrigation farmers in Burdubo district have complained of poor harvest during the past few months, citing drought, conflict and high fuel prices as the main causes.
The district has not received enough rainfall this rainy season, and fighting near the district had caused fuel prices to go up.
One of the local farmers, Dirham Sheikh Ali, told Radio Ergo that soaring fuel prices were driving up the costs of running tractors and pumping irrigation water.
Roads to the town are cut due to the conflict in the region between the Somali government troops and Al-Shabaab militant group.
Radio Ergo’s local reporter said that fuel is being brought to the area on donkey carts from Luq district, which is 85 km from the town.
One litre of diesel is selling at $2.5 in Burdubo, while the same sells at $1 in Luq.
The farmers also have to pay three million Somali shillings to hire tractors for land preparation and cleaning canals. This is three times higher than the cost of tractor hire costs in places not affected by the violence.
Farmers warned the situation could get worse if no rains were received soon.
