(ERGO) – The drought in northeastern Somalia’s Puntland regions has reduced the number of animals exported to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries this year by about a third.
The head of livestock in Puntland’s ministry of livestock and animal husbandry, Dr Abdirahman Mohamed, told Radio Ergo that Puntland exported 400,000 animals this year compared to 600,000 last previous year.
The export season is between June and September, coinciding with the end of Ramadan and the Haj.
This year’s exports consisted of 10,000 camels, the rest being goats. The animals were largely sourced from Mudug region, Burtinle district in Nugal region, and some areas in the eastern part of Sanag region, which have experienced some rain fall.
This is a major setback for pastoralists and livestock exporters as well as the government, which has seen a big decline in the tax revenues it normally accrues from livestock exports.
The drought has affected more than 200,000 pastoralist families, it is estimated. Abdullahi Abdirahman Ahmed, director of Puntland’s disaster management agency, said there had been rain failure over the last two rainy seasons. The worst affected areas were places with no wells or water catchments, where people depend on ‘berkeds’ (traditional underground water reservoirs).
Many animals have been lost and this has forced many pastoralist families into poverty. Animals have been left weak and think by the lack of pasture.
“A family that used to have 20 animals suitable for export is now likely to have only five animals or less,” said Farah Muse, a livestock exporter.
