(ERGO) – Pastoralist families in Galgadud region who lost their livestock in the drought have started restocking their herds, bringing the livestock markets in this part of Somalia back to life.
In Guriel market, Hassan Mohamud Jama sold his last remaining camel for $500. He used the money to buy 20 goats, hoping to make a fresh start for himself and his 16-member family after months of hardship.
“We lost 370 goats and camels in the drought,” Hassan told Radio Ergo, who keeps his goats at Biyo-Gaduud, 37 km south of Guri’el.
“Life in the rural areas is unbearable without livestock because the livestock provide us the lifeline we need including meat and milk. Now the long awaited rains have resumed I plan to work hard and dedicate my time to re-establishing this livelihood,” he said.
The family split up during the drought, after Hassan’s wife died, with eight of his children sent to stay with relatives in Guriel earlier this year and the other children left in the village relying on food from their neighbours.
Hassan hopes to bring the family together again once the new herd starts to become productive.
Livestock brokers in Dusamareeb told Radio Ergo that scores of pastoralist families have been visiting the markets to buys and sell. Most of the transactions are livestock bought for domestic rearing.
Mohamed Hassan Nur, a broker in Guriel, said some families are in need of quick cash to buy food. They are bringing their animals to the market for export or domestic sale. He estimated an average of 10 customers per day was each buying around 100 goats to take them back to the rural areas. The prices of goats range from $20 to $35 in the region.
Mohamed Salaad, who lives in Benyo-ad 22 km southeast of Guriel, lost 150 goats and camels in the drought. On 12 May, he sold his 10 of his surviving healthier goats that for $380. He topped up with a $450 loan from his relative and bought 40 younger goats for $830. He plans to restock his herd.
Mohamed, a father of six, told Radio Ergo there were many destitute families roaming around the rural areas in search of people to give them a few livestock to restart their way of life.
