A New Bloom: Barwaaqo Irrigation Project Enhances Food Security and Climate Resilience

Somalia has been vulnerable to droughts, which, worsened by climate change, have devastated food security and caused displacement. Erratic rainfall and prolonged dry spells have left many farmers unable to grow crops to sustain their families. 

In Barwaqo, a village in the city of Baidoa in South West State, traditional farming methods that once worked under predictable weather patterns are no longer viable; use of the wrong seeds and insufficient water supply have further hampered food production.  

The Barwaqo Pilot Irrigation Project is addressing these challenges through modern irrigation techniques and the distribution of seeds to enhance the capacity of farmers in Barwaqo to improve food security and build resilience in the face of climate change.  

By transforming nine hectares of arid land into 57 well-irrigated productive plots, the project has introduced smart, sustainable farming practices to local farmers. Each of the plots, measuring 35 square meters, benefits from an innovative drip water piping network that ensures reliable access to water, one of Barwaqo's pressing concerns.

For farmers like Halimo Ibrahim Hassan, who previously watched their crops wither due to insufficient or inconsistent watering, the difference has been life changing. "The micro-irrigation and farming system has been immensely beneficial," she shared. "We can grow crops over multiple seasons, providing food for my family and fodder for the livestock. Before this project, we struggled to have even one successful harvest".  

In the first season, she grew spinach, salad greens and green peppers; in the second, she harvested a substantial amount of maize. The drip irrigation system has been advantageous for vegetable cultivation and the parsley in Halimo's farm has flourished. 

The project's inclusive approach has been crucial to its success. By collaborating with local authorities and the Barwaqo farmers’ committee, 57 farmers (43 women and 14 men) were selected to be part of the pilot based on various elements, including farming experience, gender and disability status — with more focus on female-headed households and marginalized communities. The farmers underwent extensive training in advanced agricultural techniques; drip irrigation, in particular, has been crucial in boosting crop yields. Additionally, the project provided participants with the necessary farm tools and equipment, such as hoes, wheelbarrows, spades and gumboots, to ensure efficient farming practices.

Recognizing the importance of quality seeds, farmers were provided with a variety of seeds suitable to be grown in Barwaqo’s climatic conditions, including watermelon, legumes, tomatoes, spinach and sorghum. This diverse selection helped farmers improve both the nutritional value of their crops and their economic prospects.  

This project has significantly bolstered food security in Barwaqo and enhanced economic stability for the community which now has food from their farms that sustains them for several months. For Aden Sheikh Isack Abdullahi, the Barwaqo phase one settlement chief, the results have been impactful. 

One of the key innovations Aden points to is the change in planting practices. Traditionally, farmers would plant multiple crops in a single hole, which often led to spoilage or loss of the plants. Now, because of the training provided by the project, the farmers usually plant one crop per hole, ensuring healthier, high-quality produce. 

The initiative is implemented through the Saameynta Programme, which means “impact” in Somali. Saameynta is a collaborative effort of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), UN Habitat and UNDP, funded through the Somalia Joint Fund with generous support from the Governments of Switzerland, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Kingdom of Norway. 

For more information, contact Somalia Media and Communications somaliacomms@iom.int