By Ahmed Abdirashid | Executive director
Summary
During this reporting period, we reached an important milestone by successfully training 30 smallholder farmers in sustainable soil restoration and organic fertilizer production. The training combined classroom instruction with practical, hands-on demonstrations, enabling farmers to gain both the knowledge and confidence to improve the fertility of their land using affordable, locally available resources.
As climate change, land degradation, and the rising cost of agricultural inputs continue to threaten food production in Somalia, this training has equipped farmers with practical solutions that can improve soil health while reducing dependence on expensive chemical fertilizers.
What We Accomplished
Over the course of the training, participants learned the causes and impacts of soil degradation and explored sustainable methods for restoring soil fertility. The practical sessions focused on producing organic compost using biodegradable household and farm waste materials that are readily available in rural communities.
Farmers were trained to make organic fertilizer from materials such as:
Participants learned each stage of the composting process, including selecting suitable materials, building compost piles, maintaining moisture, turning the compost, and determining when it is ready for use in crop production.
The hands-on approach allowed every participant to practice the techniques themselves, ensuring they can replicate the process on their own farms.
The Impact
The training has strengthened the capacity of 30 farmers to restore degraded soils using environmentally friendly and low-cost farming practices. Farmers reported a better understanding of how healthy soils contribute to improved crop production and expressed enthusiasm about applying their new skills during the next planting season.
Beyond improving agricultural productivity, the project is also encouraging better environmental stewardship by promoting the recycling of organic household waste into valuable compost instead of disposing of it.
By adopting these techniques, farming families can improve soil fertility, reduce production costs, and build greater resilience to the impacts of climate change.
Looking Ahead
In the coming months, we will continue supporting the trained farmers through follow-up visits and technical guidance as they establish compost systems on their farms. We will monitor how the new practices are being adopted and document early improvements in soil quality and crop performance.
We also plan to encourage trained farmers to share their knowledge with neighboring households, helping spread sustainable soil restoration practices throughout their communities.
Thank You
We are deeply grateful to our GlobalGiving donors for making this work possible. Your generosity is helping Somali farmers restore the health of their soils, strengthen their livelihoods, and build more sustainable farming systems for the future. Every contribution is creating lasting change for farming families working to overcome the challenges of land degradation and climate change
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