In the sun-scorched plains of Dollo Ado, where the Ganale and Dauwa rivers converge, Mohamed Issack Amin has become a lifeline for local farmers. As an agrovet supplier, he plays a bridging role in Ethiopia’s Somali region’s agricultural sector, supporting a network of over 10,500 farmers. Through his agrovet business, he provides essential input such as assorted seeds, farm tools, and continuous capacity-building to farmers to boost productivity. But Mohamed’s role extends beyond supply; he is a market enabler, bridging farmers to stable markets and ensuring their hard work translates into sustainable livelihoods.
Recognising his central role in the local agricultural economy, the BORESHA-NABAD consortium, through the Danish Refugee Council (DRC Ethiopia), partnered with Mohamed to scale up his impact. Leveraging a market systems approach, the consortium has supported him in preparing 100 hectares of virgin farmland in five kebeles, enrolling 200 farmers in fodder production, and equipping them with high-quality Sudan grass fodder seeds, agricultural tools, and continuous mentorship to boost productivity.
“With BORESHA-NABAD’s intervention, I’ve ensured that farmers receive quality inputs and have guaranteed access to markets. We ploughed once unproductive lands and turned them into thriving farmland.” Mohamed says.
Mohamed’s agrovet business spans Malka Dida, Hilloweym, and IDP camps in Afdheer, Liban, and Dawa zones. This vast presence across the Somali region makes him a trusted link between farmers, livelihood organisations, local government agencies, and market traders. The consortium has utilised this to advance its livestock value chain interventions. Mohamed has been integral in enabling farmers who once struggled to find buyers to be connected to ready markets across the borderlands.
The project’s first phase facilitated the cultivation of 100 hectares of previously uncultivated land and has since promoted sustainable agriculture while minimising environmental impact. Additionally, 200 farmers, mainly women and youth from marginalised communities, have been enrolled in large-scale fodder production, where Mohamed is at the centre.
“I’ve always believed in the strength of our farmers. BORESHA-NABAD engaged me to support them. Now, farmers produce, and we buy their fodder, seeds and whatever they grow. We’ve built a reliable market with livelihood organisations, local government agencies, and local traders that benefit everyone.” Mohamed says.
For Mohamed, a livestock owner and a local man, this is more than business. He admirably emphasises that it’s about securing the livestock population across the borderlands through a constant supply of animal feeds in a region where pastoralism is a way of life and animal forage is always in demand. Especially during this drought period, when fodder is becoming a rare commodity, his supply chain ensures livestock owners have access to quality feeds to mitigate animal losses and strengthen community resilience.
“We crush and store fodder in bales to ensure a steady supply for livestock owners, livelihood organisations, and government agencies,” he explains. “This has been crucial in bridging the feed gap during dry seasons.”
With growing demand, Mohamed is confident that supply will keep pace. “Previously, demand was never an issue but supply was,” he notes. But this gap is closing thanks to BORESHA-NABAD-supported livestock common interest groups, including women and youth. The project’s initial investment is expected to triple over three farming seasons as farmers replant using seeds from their harvest.
“The farmers we engaged are now harvesting their fodder, and we are ready with the market,” he says. “BORESHA-NABAD has strengthened both my business and the local farming community. We are not just selling inputs but building a resilient agricultural system.”
Through strategic partnerships and a market-driven approach, BORESHA-NABAD is transforming the agro-pastoral economy in Dollo Ado and the wider borderlands. Mohamed’s story is a testament to how local resources, when properly harnessed, can drive economic growth and sustainability. When markets work for the people, resilience follows.