Mahmoud Mohamed Said, a farmer and member of the Tanad Cooperative in Ceeldahir village, has depended on his farm for more than two decades. Since establishing the farm in 2002, he has built his home, raised and educated his children, and supported his entire family through farming.
For years, however, crop production was threatened by livestock entering the fields, as well as people and children passing through or taking produce. To protect his crops, Mahmoud had to personally guard the farm and pay a watchman approximately US$100 per month an ongoing cost that reduced the income he could reinvest in his agricultural activities.
The installation of a protective fence has changed this situation significantly. The fence now helps safeguard his crops, reduce damage, and provide a more secure environment for production. It has also eliminated the need for a paid watchman, allowing Mahmoud to redirect that monthly expense back into his farm.
For Mahmoud, the fence represents more than infrastructure. It is an investment in the productivity and sustainability of a livelihood that has supported his family for generations. By protecting agricultural land and reducing recurring costs, the intervention is helping farmers retain more of the value they generate and reinvest in their farms.
Supported by SEDO, WFP, and the Puntland Ministry of Agriculture, this intervention demonstrates how a relatively simple agricultural investment can create a lasting economic benefit for a farming household.
Although the project has ended, the benefits continue through protected farmland, reduced operating costs, improved production potential, and a stronger foundation for the farmer’s future livelihood.
Watch Mahmoud story here