How KDF Troops Under AMISOM Are Impacting Agribusiness Skills To Somalia Women Groups

NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 23- The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops based at Sector II Headquarters – Dhobley, as part of their Civil-Military Cooperation engagements, conducted a one-day field awareness session for women drawn from various groups in Dhobley on various agricultural practices in order to promote socio-economic development.

The women visited a demonstration farm at the Sector II Headquarters, which has various agricultural components including a vegetable section, tree nurseries, poultry section, and a fishpond.

Upon arrival, the women were taken through the procedures of establishing small vegetables gardens and tree nurseries in their homes, which are critical in promoting environmental conservation.

They were also shown how to hatch chicks using incubators with the aim of establishing poultry farms, which are critical sources of food, income, and employment.

‘‘It is cheap to maintain a mixed farm as the diverse components symbiotically depend on each other. Having the farms helps to empower you economically and at the same time offer avenues of self-employment,’’ said Sergeant Kennedy Juma, while inducting the women on various projects in the farm.

The women were also advised to make use of simple drip irrigation methods in the farms they will establish owing to the scarcity of water in the area.

Other than empowering the local populace, the initiatives are aimed at targeting vulnerable groups in the society by winning their hearts and minds thus denying terror groups avenues of recruitment.

‘‘Such socio-economic development initiatives are crucial in achieving lasting peace and stability other than guaranteeing food security. It helps also provoke a change in mindset towards the need for total security in all spheres of life,’’ said Captain Getrude Abiyo, the Officer-in-Charge of the Female Engagement Team (FET).

The visit to the farm is part of the FET sessions that the AMISOM troops have been holding with the aim of empowering women to participate in community development and leadership.