Extension and advisory services personnel needed for promoting animal production in the republic of Somalia

Abstract EN

This research aimed to describe the current profile of livestock production in the Republic of Somalia(RoS), review the condition of Extension and Advisory Service Personnel (EASP), that were available before the civil war, and estimate the number of personnel needed for serving livestock producers.

Due to difficulties in attaining primary data from RoS, the study used secondary data published by regional and international organizations.

Total numbers of different types of animals were: (6647200, camels; 5531100, cattle, 30516600, goats and 12983100 sheep (FAO and World Bank, 2018).

To estimate types and numbers of needed EASP, this study used the number of animals in 17 out of 18 regions in RoS.

Estimations of needed numbers were based on the following criteria: For each 7000 camels, one Extension Worker (EW), one Veterinary Doctor (VD), one Feeding Program Specialist (FPS), in addition to one Marketing Specialist (MS) per each 12000 Camels.

Same criteria were applied for cattle.

For each 20000 goats and sheep, one EW, one VD, one FPS, are needed, in addition to one MS per each 25000 goats and sheep.

Results indicate that the total estimated numbers of needed EASP are 3406 for camels, 2834 for cattle, 5791 for goats, and 2467 for sheep.

Since these numbers are not currently available in RoS, the study recommends that the Ministry of Agriculture start by recruiting around 10% of these numbers of in each Region.

These numbers could be gradually increased by adding 15 or 20% each year up to 2030.