(ERGO) – Pastoralist families who lost their livestock to the drought in Togga Jaceel valley in Puntand’s Bari region have been gathering grass sold for thatching traditional houses.
The families, living in scattered settlements along the valley, say the new activity has helped them recover from months of hardship after drought destroyed their herds.
Said Barre Salah makes around $16 a week selling at least eight bundles of the tough thatching grass. He previously depended entirely on livestock, but lost around 100 goats over four consecutive dry seasons due to lack of pasture, water shortage, and disease.
During the worst period, his family survived on food aid and loans from others in the community.
“We now cook twice a day, breakfast and lunch. This work has lifted the burden of feeding my family. We are in a better place now than before,” he said.
Access to water has also improved for his wife and seven children, as they now rely on natural springs along the valley instead of paying for trucked water, which can cost up to $5 per barrel in nearby rural areas.
He tried farming last year, investing in onion cultivation on a two-hectare plot borrowed from a relative. However, the harvest failed to sell in Bosaso markets, leaving him discouraged and in debt. He tried casual labour, but couldn’t find enough work.
He uses his own donkey cart to deliver the bundles of grass collected, avoiding transport costs.
“The need to feed my children pushed me into this work. We collect large amounts, dry it, tie it into bundles, and then transport it to sell,” he explained.
After several months, Said has been able to move his family out of a temporary hut into a more stable structure built from thatching grass and wooden poles that he constructed the new home in March, at a cost of about $160.
He enrolled two of his children in school in February, paying a combined monthly fee of $20. He hopes to enroll two more children in the coming months.
In addition, he has repaid $50 of a $700 debt accumulated from farming inputs and food purchases that has eased the constant pressure he faced from creditors.
Although he has 19 goats left, they are too weak to provide anything, although he hopes they will recover if the current rainy season improves grazing conditions.
Other families have also benefited from the same thatching grass work. Mohamed Abdirahman Omar, who supports a household of 12, earns $15 to $20 per week from his sales
His family were severely short of food, sometimes unable to cook even once a day, and dependent on whatever their neighbours could share.
“Now the family can at least have one proper meal a day. Things are better than before. What I earn is what we live on,” he said.
Mohamed moved to the valley last year after losing around 100 goats in Gumbah.
He tried fishing but found it unsustainable due to increased competition. He says demand for thatching grass is slowly increasing, and he hopes to expand his business by reaching larger markets in towns across the region.
“There are still few customers, but we are trying. At least now we have basic daily needs covered, and our cooking fire is no longer always out,” he said.
Mohamed has also started saving about $10 per month to prepare for future challenges. He plans to use the savings to support his family and enroll three of his children in school.
Local community leader, Salad Mahmoud Ahmed said hundreds of men and women were now engaged in collecting and selling thatching grass. Many were driven into the activity after losing livestock or other income sources.
“The people involved include long-time residents and others who moved here looking for a way to survive. There are also women, who had no other means of supporting their families. This work has become their main livelihood,” he said.
He added that the valley’s natural vegetation provided a steady supply of thatching grass, making it accessible to anyone willing for the physically demanding work. Informal networks have also formed among workers, who support and communicate with each other.
