If I am not mistaken James, are saying investment in its totality is inappropriate in present-Somalia when it needs it the most? I find that very unfortunate and even disheartening. While I am sure you, as a non-Somali Western man from Canada, could be forgiven for being susceptible to the limitations of an individual who does not have physical or familial contacts with the land in question, I am not sure I could be forgiven for making such an unfortunate assessment.
If you notice in Exhibit #1, the nearest major town to the farming commune is the town of Beled-Hawo. My mother's brother lives in that town right now and two months ago, I started a topic in a relevant Somalinet section announcing my brother would be visiting that town and surrounding areas (he has since come back with joyful and optimistic tales):
Voltage wrote:So my older brother left for Africa today
by Voltage » Thu Nov 17, 2011
He will be in Nairobi for a week and in Gedo for 25 days, mostly in Beled-Xaawo area.
viewtopic.php?f=26&t=291075
It is understandable when speaking about places in conflict, especially in Africa and particularly in Somalia, many people could be pessimistic, but if there is one thing donors have learned about Somalia and the recent famine is that the perceived suspicions and notions should not be used by the vehicle of pessimism which prevents meaningful contact and contribution to the livelihood development of some of the world's most disadvantaged peoples. I say this because, while as you have outlined concerns about conflict, the on-ground assessment my brother made was people are fed up with war and just as much if not
even more they are fed up with feeling hopeless and disenfranchised. On the issue of security, he relayed how the area has been captured from the Al Shabaab militant group a year ago by Transitional Government soldiers and since then order and security was paramount for the authorities. He said no one carried arms, people went about their life in peace, and there was even a district court that fairly arbitrated concerns and dealt with petty crime.
You speak in generalities James, but specific assessments say otherwise. The situation of Somalia is not stagnant and change is all over. If I could use Exhibit #1 as an example, what transpired from that investment? Here is Exhibit #1:
This investment would not have successfully be implemented turning barren land into fertile land and providing sustenance for a people who would otherwise have been dependent on donated food aid if the type of unfortunate pessimism you expressed was widespread. Because that small investment went ahead, according to the UNDP article, the project employed:
-- 1,794 people in the local community of which 1, 120 were unskilled laborers
--10 masons and 56 foremen
--180 laborers for the construction of dykes
Some results of the project were:
--1200 hectares of unused land irrigated by proper dyke control
--Proper allocation of farm plots settled at 1.2 to 3.5 hectares
--Retention of mineral-rich soil capable of producing variety of crops
--Farming of maize/corn, cowpeas, simsim, watermelon, and sorghum
--Per household harvest of 7 to 35 bags of crops enough for consumption as well as selling
What a wonderful small-scale investment project that should be strengthened, utilized, and replicated throughout the rest of Gedo Region and Somalia. It is the only future for my country birth and disadvantaged people of origin.
