Reflections on The Past To Plan For

A Better Future

Presented At: Strategic Framework for Coordinated

Agriculture Interventions in Somalia
April 19th-22nd , 2004, Machakos, KENYA
Background

 Agriculture research
and extension dates
back to early 1950’s

 Bonkay-1950

 CARS-1960-irrigated
crops

 To develop, test, and

advance new
technologies
Somalia 1990-2004
Background

 Civil unrest
 Loss of innocent lives
 Starvation
 Destruction of
government institutions
 Brain drain-refugees
 Loss of important
historic documentation
Background

 Interested groups started emerging inside

and outside the country

 2001 Somali Agriculture Symposium

“Improving and Sustaining Somalia
Agriculture”, Charlotte, NC.
Somali Agriculture
Sympossium, NC
The purpose of the symposium was to bring
together agriculture research scientists with
experience in Somali agriculture to share and
exchange information on:

 Past achievements and weaknesses

 Current agricultural activities
 Future directions for Somali agriculture
Presentations

Topics presented:
 Water resource
management
 Genetic improvement
 Soil fertility
 Solar energy
 Crop protection
 Farming systems
 Institution building
 Technology transfer
Somali Agriculture Technical
Group (SATG)
 A registered non-
profit association of
Somali professionals
and friends of the
country

 Dedicated to
assisting in the
reconstruction of
Somalia and its
agricultural heritage
SATG Mission

 To strive for peace and prosperity through

sustainable agricultural development
SATG Members

Multidisciplinary team consisting of highly

qualified and experienced professionals
from different sectors of agriculture
 Crop improvement

 Crop production and soil management

 Crop protection

 Farming systems and technology transfer

 Water resource management

 Animal and food science

SATG Electronic Forum

 Provides an opportunity for all SATG members

to communicate and exchange ideas
 Provides a network for agricultural
professionals scattered throughout the globe
 Stimulates discussion that addresses issues
pertaining to agriculture in Somalia
 Acts as a bridge between those that are in the
field and those that are not but have the
knowledge and experience.
What Role Can SATG Play?

Documentation of historic information on

agricultural research and extension. Why?
 Provides wealth of information
 Basis for future development strategies
 Provides knowledge-based resource centre
 Helps avoid duplication of work previously conducted
 Helps recommend strategies for intervention where
conclusive results are available
 Identifies priority areas for research and technology
transfer
What Role Can SATG Play?

Aden Osoble,
Osoble Head of Legumes
Program

Recommend Strategies for Agricultural Intervention

“FILSAN”
 Success story in late 80’s

 Recommended to the growers in 1987

 Large seeds, high yielding, early maturing, tolerance to moisture

stress
What Role Can SATG Play?

 2002- Breeders Seed

(FILSAN) was obtained
from AVRDC-Taiwan
 2002 & 2003 seed
increased in Minnesota
 March 2004-11kg of seed
shipped to Kenya for
Dr. Paul Porter
further seed increase
What Role Can SATG Play?
ntify Production Constraints: Phosphorous Deficiency
1200
Gu1986-Sorghum
1000
Grain Yield (kg/ha)

800

600

400

200

0
Control 50N 100N N+P N+P

N+P = 50N + 17.5P; N+P = 100N + 35P

What Role Can SATG Play?
Identify Production Constraints: Phosphorous Deficiency
Gu1987-Sorghum
800
Grain Yield (kg/ha)

600

400

200

0
Control 50N 100N N+P N+P
What Role Can SATG Play?
Mungbeans

Phosphorous Deficiency
What Role Can SATG Play?
dentify Genetic Constraints: Sorghum
What Role Can SATG Play?
entify Genetic Constraints: Sorghum
Summary and Recomendation

 Documenting historic information is crucial

for any future interventions in Somalia
agriculture
• It can be used as knowledge-base for parties
interested in Somalia agriculture
 Preserving scattered historic
documentation in an easy to use electronic
form
Thanks

“The future belongs to those who plan

today”