By Asha Elmi - Reporter
Galmudug, 18 August 2026 The federal and Galmudug ministries of livestock, with support from the World Bank, have provided commercial milk-storage equipment to 60 women traders in Galkayo to reduce spoilage and improve product quality.
The equipment, which includes solar-powered refrigerators, was handed over on Monday, the federal livestock ministry said.
The support is part of a wider program expected to reach up to 1,000 women involved in milk trading across Somalia. The goal is to reduce losses, improve milk safety and quality, and increase daily income for small-scale traders in the dairy value chain.
Bashir Isse Geedi, director of the Trade Department of Galkayo municipality, thanked the federal government, Galmudug authorities and the World Bank for supporting the project.
“The equipment is intended to help them benefit from their small businesses and avoid losses when milk remains unsold or prices fall,” Geedi said.
He added that the solar units would also reduce reliance on expensive electricity and allow traders to keep milk fresh for longer. Some of the equipment is designed specifically for storing and transporting milk, which officials say will improve hygiene in the dairy supply chain.
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Osman Abdi Elmi, Galmudug’s livestock ministry coordinator for Mudug region, urged the women to use the equipment at their shops and market stalls.
“It is intended to be taken to the workplaces and shops so that the milk can be properly stored and sold fresh,” Elmi said.
He noted that milk loses value quickly when unsold, making refrigeration critical for women who depend on dairy sales for their livelihoods.
Several women who received the equipment thanked the government and said the support would help reduce losses and grow their businesses.
The federal livestock ministry said similar support would be rolled out to women traders in other regions of Somalia as part of the program.