.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
By Asha Elmi - Reporter
Ethiopia, 18 October 2025 – The Somali Regional State on Friday launched the fifth phase of its tractor loan program, distributing 50 tractors to farmers, cooperatives, and private agribusinesses to support agricultural production and boost food security.
The initiative by the Regional Bureau of Agriculture is part of a broader effort to modernize farming, increase mechanization, and improve rural livelihoods. Officials say the program has already helped expand cultivated land in the region to more than 1,600 hectares.
Regional Minister of Agriculture, Abdullahi Mohamed Muse, highlighted the program’s significance at the ceremony: “Today, we were happy to participate in the handover of tractors to cooperatives and farmers in the Somali Region. This is the fifth batch of tractors provided to cooperatives and farmers to boost production.”
Nuur Mohamed, Deputy Director of Shabelle Bank, congratulated the recipients: “I congratulate the companies and cooperatives that have met all the requirements and have now received the tractors prepared for them.”
Local farmer Osman Omar, whose cooperative received a tractor, praised the initiative: “I sincerely appreciate the work of the Bureau of Agriculture and Shabelle Bank for properly managing this process and delivering the tractors. I thank them on behalf of the Barwaaqo Agricultural Production Cooperative in Sitti’s Hadhagale district.”
The Somali Regional State of Ethiopia said it will continue promoting agricultural mechanization as a key part of regional economic growth and food security efforts.
Djibouti’s agriculture is still limited due to an arid climate and scarce water resources, generating only four per cent of the Gross Domestic Product. Despite the challenges, it is the main source of income for rural communities, home to about 30 per cent of the total population.
