30 displaced farmers who have been living in Baidoa IDP camps for the past six years have received training to help them resume their livelihoods.
The training focused on promoting farmers’ skills and encouraging them to take advantage of their resources, according to Abdikadir Nur Abu, head of Baidoa agricultural university, the training organizers.
Abdinor Ibrahim Mohamed, 50, was displaced from his farm on the outskirts of Wajid in Bakol region four years ago. He said he was confident the new skills he learnt on the course would help him.
“I appreciate the lecturers who taught us voluntarily and sacrificed their time for us. We are willing to return back to our drought-affected villages if we receive farming equipment to improve our production,” he said.
Maryan Hassan Ali, another farmer, said she and her family used to depend on crops harvested from their farm in Goof-gadud village, 20 km south of Baidoa. She told Radio Ergo she was willing to go back to her village after six years in an IDP camp.
“We lived a good life before we were displaced by drought and conflicts. Life in Baidoa camps is really appalling. So we are willing to go back if we are provided with farming equipment,” she said.
Fatuma Issack Yussuf said aid agencies and the Somali government had not reached out enough support to poor farmers, saying that returning farmers like herself needed tools to renovate and their farms after being left so long uncultivated.
“We are appealing for support including pesticides and improved irrigation systems, then we can return and end the hard life in the camp,” said Fatuma.
