Crowdfarming is being used to bring Somalia’s livestock market into the digital economy
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Somalia is a global leader in the export of goats and sheep, and livestock trade generates about 40% of the country’s gross domestic product.
Yet almost every other year, recurring droughts and water scarcity take a toll on local pastoralists’ ability to keep their animals live and healthy. In 2017 alone, livestock loss has ranged from 20%-40% in the southern regions and 40%-60% in the north, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization. This threatens the livelihood of the animal farmers and hinders their ability to regularly trade in markets.
But a Sweden-based startup wants to change this by creating a tech-powered livestock market that is open all year round. The goal of Ari.Farm (“Ari” means “goat” in Somali) is to get investors to purchase livestock from locals, injecting much-needed cash into the market and potentially making a profit.
Photo courtesy of P. Casier.
Source: Quartz Africa (link opens in a new window)
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- Agriculture, Technology
