In 2024, when Abdiasis and the members of Macan Jecel Crop Production Cooperative began their farming journey, they had big ambitions but limited resources. Starting with just 25 members and one hectare of farmland, the cooperative produced only 10 quintals of maize and two quintals of peas during its initial production.
The farmers faced significant challenges, including limited access to improved seeds, farming tools, agricultural machinery, and technical knowledge. These constraints made it difficult to increase productivity and adopt modern farming practices.
“We started with one hectare of farmland, and our production was very limited. We lacked improved seeds, farming equipment, machinery, and the technical knowledge needed to improve our yields,” says Abdiasis, Chairperson of Macan Jecel Crop Production Cooperative.
Support That Made a Difference
With support from the Somalia Food Systems Resilience Project (FSRP), the cooperative gained access to essential agricultural inputs and services designed to strengthen its production capacity and improve farming practices.
The support included training in climate-smart agriculture and post-harvest handling, improved seeds, farm tools, and more than 100 hours of tractor services. These services enabled the cooperative to cultivate 20 hectares of farmland, significantly expanding its production capacity.
The training also equipped farmers with practical knowledge to improve crop management, adopt better agricultural techniques, and handle their harvests more effectively.
“This support has strengthened our farming skills and improved our ability to adopt better crop-production practices,” Abdiasis explains.
From Limited Harvests to Increased Production
The results have been encouraging. Following FSRP support, the cooperative harvested three production seasons, yielding a total of 238 quintals of crops, including maize, cowpea, banana, mungbean, and sesame.
This progress represents a significant step forward from the cooperative’s modest beginnings. Access to improved seeds, agricultural tools, mechanized services, and technical training has helped the farmers expand cultivated land, diversify their crops, and increase production.
For Abdiasis and the cooperative’s members, the achievement is more than an increase in harvests. It represents renewed confidence in their ability to overcome agricultural challenges, improve their livelihoods, and build a more secure future.
Looking Ahead to a More Resilient Future
Building on these gains, Macan Jecel Crop Production Cooperative aims to continue improving its farming practices and increasing production. The members are determined to make better use of their skills and resources while contributing to food availability and resilience within their community.
“We are motivated to continue improving our farm production. We believe we can build more sustainable livelihoods and contribute to improved food security in our community,” says Abdiasis.
The experience of Macan Jecel Crop Production Cooperative demonstrates how access to agricultural inputs, mechanization, and practical training can help smallholder farmers strengthen their production capacity and move toward more resilient food systems.
Through FSRP support, Abdiasis and his fellow farmers are turning a modest beginning into an opportunity for growth, demonstrating the potential of investing in farmers to strengthen agricultural livelihoods and food security in Somalia.
