Somaliland Families Grow Hope Through Sustainable Farming
In drought-affected Somaliland, families living in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps are turning to sustainable farming to rebuild their lives and secure food for their households.
Through an innovative initiative supported by SOS Children’s Villages, these communities are adopting greenhouse and hydroponic agriculture to combat hunger, restore livelihoods, and foster long-term self-reliance.
According to SOS Children’s Villages, the initiative targets families displaced by recurring droughts that have devastated traditional pastoral livelihoods. Many of these families arrived in camps with little more than what they could carry—no livestock, no farmland, and no stable source of income or food.
To address this crisis, the organization introduced a small-scale farming project that equips families with greenhouse plots or hydroponic kits, along with training in modern agriculture techniques. These include composting, drip irrigation, and climate-resilient crop production. Beneficiaries also receive tools, seeds, and access to water through solar-powered pumps.
“The idea is to help families move beyond dependence on aid by growing their own nutritious food and selling surplus produce for income,” SOS Children’s Villages reports.
The impact has been profound. In the Buula-fiin, Garasweyne, and Horsed IDP camps near Baidoa, over 300 people—mostly women—are now cultivating tomatoes, onions, lettuce, spinach, and peppers in 29 greenhouse gardens.
Mohamed Isgowe Ali, a 47-year-old father who joined the project after losing his land to drought, said the farming has transformed his life. “Before, we depended on food aid. Now I earn enough to build a home for my parents and send my children to school,” he told SOS Children’s Villages.
Fiiday Ali, a single mother of nine in the Garasweyne camp, said she earns $5–6 daily by selling produce from her garden. “Now I can cook three meals a day for my children,” she said.
According to SOS Children’s Villages, the project does more than improve nutrition and incomes. It also builds climate resilience and empowers women and youth by giving them productive roles in their communities.
The initiative incorporates environmentally friendly practices such as hydroponics, rainwater harvesting, and solar-powered irrigation, aligning with the belief that “climate protection is child protection.”
As drought and displacement continue to challenge the Horn of Africa, the success of this initiative offers a model for sustainable recovery. With tools, training, and support, displaced families in Somaliland are not just growing vegetables—they’re growing hope.