The Impact of Conflict on Access to Agricultural Inputs in Merka District of Lower Shabelle Region of Southern Somalia

Abstract

The objective of this article was to investigate the existing challenges of crop production for farmers in the Afgoye District of Lower Shabelle, Somalia. The focus was on farmers' attitudes toward existing or not constraints to their crop production, what the experts have seen and what is far from their perception. Sixty farmers and academic experts distributed questionnaires and interviews about the constraints of crop production other than agricultural disciplines. This paper used descriptive survey research, which facilitates an easy connection between past constraints and challenges in crop production. The questionnaire was comprised of the following two parts: Part one, demographic variables, and Part two, objective-related questions. The study found that both major and minor constraints exist for Somali farmers. The major constraints include unstable weather, water scarcity, pests damaging crops, and poor transportation, and minor constraints such as inability to access and use seeds and fertilisers, lack of capital to buy, and inadequate investment in irrigation, which makes farmers very vulnerable to drought, and there is less knowledge and skill of all farmers. The finding with the highest percentage that was challenged in Afgoye farmers was "there is fear of gunner and thieves in the farmers", and 75 per cent of respondents strongly agreed. The second question with the highest score is "There is fear of conflict between rebels and government", and 61.7 per cent of those selected strongly agreed.