Key Takeaways
- The livestock sector plays a key role in Somalia’s economy as well as export earnings, especially when it deals with Gulf regional states.
- Recent increases in livestock exports demonstrate the potential for further economic growth.
- The livestock sector continues to suffer from a massive strain from climate variability, disease outbreaks, and poor infrastructure.
- Sustainable development cannot be achieved without some strategic intervention in the health, infrastructure, and trade policies of the country.
Livestock is the backbone of the Somali economy sustaining many livelihoods and earning export revenue. It provides food and economic support to a large section of the population in the rural sector.
The state of this sector is quite resilient, but it is affected by numerous problems, notably recurrent droughts, limited market access, and various health problems for animals. Increased strategic support for the sector alongside infrastructure improvement and the implementation of health and trade policy measures can help realize its full potential.
This policy brief aims to set out the livestock sector, focusing on livestock export trends in Somalia and comparing that with other Horn of Africa countries, while also proposing a way forward for the realization of its contribution to socio-economic development in Somalia.