Sometimes we find ourselves sitting around on our hands, not because we don’t want to help, but because we don’t have the tools to do so. This problem was very real to many of the farmers we spoke with in Somalia. We heard people talk about having children and grandchildren who could help on the farm, but not enough supplies to have all hands on deck during the busiest parts of the year—especially preparing the land for the rainy season, planting, and harvesting. Plus, having the right tools can really help farmers take back control of some of the effects of a changing climate. "Before, my farm had really rich and nutritious soil, but the soil has lost lots of nutrients and its ability to retain water," said Mohammed Ahmed Askar, one of the farmers we worked with. "In order to be more efficient and to control for floods, I would love more tools we can use for flood control." Something that could help? Shovels! We bought shovels for all of the farms - a versatile … [Read more...] about Digging Deeper

We’re all familiar with that feeling of wishing we had three or four arms to juggle everything we want to carry. Farmers are particularly acquainted with this feeling, sometimes hauling tools, seeds, manure, and more around over the span of a few hours. We wanted to alleviate some of this need in Annayo...and wheelbarrows were just the ticket! Wheelbarrows can be used in so many different settings — to carry manure, transport tools, or even carry a sick goat or sheep that needs to be brought somewhere. Not only that, wheelbarrows are low maintenance and easy to maintain. "Wheelbarrows are a useful tool for all the farms," said Roble Abdi Muse from the ARC team. "Most of the farmers need it to transport manure, but it can also be used for tools and other supplies." This change made possible by Mankind is My Business. … [Read more...] about Free Wheelin’

In Somalia, livestock, and sheep in particular, are at the center of daily life. They're used for meat and milk, but also so much more - sheep can be used to buy necessary household items or even pay for a child’s education. Wool can be sheered, bones and hooves can be used to make buttons and other supplies, and, in general, they provide a greater sense of security for families. Sheep were a need brought up consistently by the families we interviewed in Annayo. So we decided to do something about it, getting some farmers more sheep to help form a foundation of stability in the community. We were able to buy sheep for families who were already taking care of livestock, and had the supplies and skills to do so. Many of the sheep we bought replaced sheep that had died during the 2017 drought, and the farmers we spoke with were so grateful. "There is a cultural value set on live stock in this region," said Rahma Ismail from the ARC team in nearby Hargeisa. "They mean a lot … [Read more...] about As Ewe Like It

Welcome back to Somalia! We’re in Annayo, a small farming community in the northern part of the country. The next thirty days will be all about Annayo - boosting these farmers' confidence that every season will provide enough bounty to support their families. We kicked off the month by talking to farmers - they told us what their needs were, and we brainstormed some ideas for how best to respond. One theme we saw come up time and time again was the need for more livestock - for manure for crops, milk to sell in the market, meat for the family, or to produce offspring that they could sell for income. So, what better place to start than by responding to this number one need...getting these farmers some goats! This community was heavily impacted by the recent droughts in 2017, and is still feeling many of the repercussions of the water shortage. Many people lost not only crops but livestock, trees and more. An infusion of more goats will help these families get back on … [Read more...] about Got Your Goat