The increasing popularity of motorbikes for delivery services in central Somalia’s Mudug region, is creating work for men and income for their families.
Ali Mohamed Adan, 37, has been earning $200 a month since he began making milk collections from villages near Galkayo on a motorbike last November.
“This work has helped me a lot. It covers my children’s needs. I don’t make a lot of money, and I don’t save, but it’s enough to manage my family’s life,” said Ali, who had been out of work for seven months before.
“I send money to support my family, pay rent for myself, and eat at restaurants, all covered by what I earn from the motorbike.”
Ali is one of about 100 young men in Galkayo who have taken up motorbike delivery jobs, a trend that has grown significantly since last year.
He got the job through a relative. His income has allowed him to re-enroll three children in Koranic school after they were expelled in December due to unpaid fees of $30.
He had been depending on help from relatives in Far-Libah, Hiran region, and often incurred debts to provide food for his wife and five children. He was sharing accommodation and meals with friends in the city because he couldn’t afford to live independently.
“I’m still paying off debts, but now I owe $350 instead of the $800 I owed before. Since starting this job, I’ve been able to pay back little by little,” Ali explained.
The family used to live off their one-hectare farm in Mudug, but constant drought left it barren.
Nowadays, Ali works throughout the week, travelling 30 kilometre a day to collect milk from camel camps outside the city where businessmen keep their herds. He is planning to unite the family under one roof now he has better income.
“The motorbike belongs to someone else, and I am only the driver. In the past, milk was delivered in cars like Proboxes, which consumed 30 litres per 100 kilometres. The motorbike consumes only three litres per 100 km, making it more practical,” Ali said.
Motorbikes cost $1,000-$2,000 in the area and are mostly owned by businessmen who hire riders, paying them a wage that covers basic needs.
Another motorbike rider, Sakarye Adan Hassan, 25, has been supporting his family in Harfo, Mudug region, since December on a $150 monthly he makes collecting milk from camels in Godod village, 20 kilometres from Galkayo.
“For the first time, I have a permanent job. I use my earnings to pay rent, water, electricity, and other household bills. I also buy clothes and live without worry,” Sakarye said.
He had been working as a truck helper for six months without pay, hoping to gain experience and trust and get into the job market. He learned about the motorbike opportunity from a friend doing the same.
“In the past, I had to ask friends for money or take on debts to feed my family. When I didn’t get anything, the situation was dire. I would ride trucks as a helper just to ask drivers for some money. If I got even one dollar, I sent it home. There were times when my family went hungry because I couldn’t find anything,” Sakarye told Radio Ergo.
As the father of one son, Sakarye plans to pay off his $600 debt and eventually buy his own motorbike to increase his earnings.
Motorbikes are not only used to transport milk but are also rented to individuals travelling to and from villages near Galkayo. Their affordability and speed make them a preferred choice.
Hassan Mohamed Muse, a camel trader with 50 animals in Godod village, recently switched from hiring a car costing $300 a month for daily milk transportation to using motorbikes costing $200 a month. The bikes deliver twice daily, improving reliability and reducing spoilage.
“I benefit greatly from the motorcycle. It helps me keep up with my work and is important for my situation. Before, I had to wait for a car that came only once a day. Sometimes the driver wouldn’t show up, leaving the milk unsold and customers angry. Now, everything runs smoothly,” Hassan said.
The high cost of renting a car forced him to sell milk only in the early morning. With the motorbike, he saves $100 monthly and delivers milk twice daily. Hassan earns $3,000 monthly from camel milk sales.
