EC Support To Pastoralist Milk Producers In Somaliland and Puntland

Nairobi, September 21, 2006 – Under the EC strategy for Food Security and Rural Development in Somalia (2002-2007 Strategy for the implementation of Special Aid in Somalia) the EC program for Support to Agriculture and Livestock Development in Somalia is providing specific support to pastoral livelihood development in Somaliland and Puntland. A major objective is to improve market access and to diversify livestock product marketing and trade, to the benefit of the rural poor.

Within this framework the EC is funding the Somali Pastoralist Dairy Development Project (SPDDP), which is being implemented by VETAID and Vétérinaires sans Frontières Germany in pastoralist zones of Puntland and Somaliland. The project is targeting 49,200 pastoralist beneficiaries in Puntland (Gardo, Garowe, Dangorayo districts) and in Somaliland (Buroa, Odweine, Ainabo districts) whose household production, assets and income will be increased through improved market access, marketing of better quality fresh milk and processing of raw milk into marketable milk products. The project focuses on training and provision of appropriate cooling and processing technology to pastoralist milk producers. The aim is to improve the link between pastoralist milk producers and urban milk markets in response to the reality of a continuously increasing demand for quality fresh milk and milk products from Somali urban consumers.

Parallel to the technical support at production level the project will collaborate closely with local administrations and with private businesses to develop adequate policies, public health standards and quality control tools for the emerging national dairy sector in Somaliland and Puntland.

This project is the result of a Call for Proposals with financial assistance from the 9th EDF to support to agriculture and livestock development in Somalia. The Call, worth € 10,050,000, comprised six complementary lots aiming at strengthening livelihoods at household level, in particular food security, through broad based development of agriculture and livestock.

Source: EU