The Ministry of Agriculture has stated that Somalia needs to increase investments in domestic food production.
Said Hussein Iid, the country’s Minister of Agriculture, said that Somalia imports food worth over $1.5 billion each year.
Therefore, the Federal Government of Somalia has introduced new measures designed to address the deficit.
Moreover, the agriculture minister stated that the government continues to encourage further investment in the sector.
He also said that the country has to improve its domestic food production.
“Agriculture is the backbone of our economy,” Iid said. “It is responsible for approximately 70 percent of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” he concluded.
Furthermore, agriculture employs about 80 percent of the workforce in the country. Agricultural products also take up 50 percent of Somalia’s exports.