Prices of livestock in parts of Central Somalia have increased as farmers rush to dispose of their animals before they starve to death as a result of the severe drought.
The increase in prices follows a predictable pattern that gets farmers and policymakers flat-footed every drought season, which ends with farmers selling their livestock, raising concerns about the country’s disaster preparedness.
A spot check by Dalsan Media in the town of Beledweyne shows low capital as traders camp at the city’s biggest livestock market for days without sale, despite the increase in prices.
This year promises to be even more severe after annual rains failed for four consecutive years due to climate change that has diminished pasture and dried up seasonal rivers a lifeline for many pastoralists.
Frantic efforts by a section of herders to relocate their livestock to the neighboring regions have also not yielded much, the farmers told Dalsan TV.
A herder from the Beldweyne Livestock Market said the situation is dire and pleaded with both the governmental and nongovernmental organizations to supply human relief food and pellets for animals.
He said low livestock prices had affected meat supply.
“It is only the butchers who are buying our goats for the consumption of the local population. No one is buying livestock to keep them due to the drought. Some of us are in the market for close to three days without selling our goats,” said Mohamed.
Mature goat and sheep prices have dropped marginally, selling from as low as USD 35 and a high of USD 180 from constant price of USD 150 six months ago.
The Beledweyne livestock market is one of the biggest in the region and serves many ports of Horn of Africa exporting livestock to Middle East and Asia.
Somalia is witnessing one of the worst droughts in recent history. More than 1 million people have already been displaced by the drought, according to the United Nations.
The U.N. said more than 7.7 million Somalis—nearly half of the country’s population – need humanitarian assistance because of the drought.
UNICEF earlier indicated that drought-related malnutrition has already killed 500 children in Somalia.
