Arkaide Mohammed, a farmer from the Aysaita district of the Afar region, had been cultivating maize on his family’s land for years. The Afar region, situated in the northeastern part of Ethiopia, is known for its harsh, arid climate and frequent droughts. Yet, Arkaide’s family had found a way to thrive, growing maize, using irrigation from the Awash river which runs through the Afar region.
However, their livelihood was upended when severe flooding hit the region in 2020. Heavy rains caused the Awash River, to overflow its banks, submerging their farm. “The floodwaters washed away our crops and rendered our farmland unusable”, recalls Arkaide.
The flooding continued to be a problem in the following rainy seasons, as the land became overgrown with thorny weeds and shrubs, making it impossible for Arkaide to continue his farming activities.
The formation of the Galikoma group: Rebuilding Livelihoods After Flooding Devastation
In September 2023, Arkaide was chosen along with nine other former farmers who had experienced similar challenges for a project that aimed at building the self-reliance and livelihood capacities of communities. Together, they formed a group called Galikoma, with Arkaide elected as the group leader. The project, funded by Danida, took a “triple-nexus” approach, focusing on saving lives, supporting local capacities, and promoting peace and social cohesion.
DCA provided the group with essential farming tools, such as shovels, machetes, rakes, and axes, as well as seeds. Moreover, the project rented a tractor to clear the overgrown weeds and plough the land, and dug ditches to connect the land to the Awash River for irrigation.
With this support, Arkaide and his Galikoma teammates set to work, sowing maize on a five-hectare plot of land. They operated as a tight-knit unit, taking turns tending to the farm, including fence-making, watering the crops, and protecting the maize from cattle and wildlife.
Their hard work paid off. They collected an impressive 110 quintals of maize, a bountiful yield that far exceeded their initial expectations.
Now, Arkaide and his team are preparing to sell their produce to the local market, anticipating a net profit of 400,000 Ethiopian Birr after paying the landowner’s share and covering other expenses.
Arkaide is optimistic about his and the group’s future. “This is just the beginning,” he says. “In the coming season, we plan to expand to 15 hectares of land, and we want to continue to grow our farming business.”
About the project
Arkaide is a beneficiary of the Addressing Protection and Multiple Socio-Economic Needs Through a Triple Nexus Approach In South Sudan and Ethiopia project that is funded by DANIDA.
