In Somalia, date palms have displayed exceptional resilience to climate-related challenges such as droughts, floods, and locust invasions. Mohamud shared an observation, "When the locusts came, they ate everything, except the date palms. They only ate the leaves, but the trees continued to fruit. Lemon trees and other crops were destroyed." This resilience is particularly relevant as the country battles food insecurity, with the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) reporting that 3.6 million Somalis are facing crisis-level hunger, a number expected to escalate to 4.4 million.
Samer Jarjouhi, Head of Programs & Prevention for the ICRC in Somalia, highlighted the evolution of farming practices over the past decade, "Technologies like drought-resistant crops and solar irrigation, have not only improved crop yields, but empower Somali communities to adapt and even thrive, despite the many adversities they face." Solar-powered irrigation systems have been adopted by farmers, including Abass Omar from the Barookhle farming zone, who remarked on the profitability of date palms compared to other crops and their ability to survive diseases that affect other harvests.
The cultivation of date palms stands as a viable solution for maintaining livelihoods and generating income amidst rising food insecurity and challenging weather conditions in Somalia. The success of the date palm program is seen as a model for sustainable and resilient agricultural practices.
Source: ICRC