Federal Government Pledges Tax Relief and Reforms to Boost Farming, Tackle Food Insecurity

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: The Federal Government of Somalia has unveiled new measures to support farmers and strengthen food security, including tax exemptions, market reforms and targeted crop development, officials said this week.

Agriculture Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi Mareeye told a workshop in Mogadishu that Somalia’s farming sector is held back by climate shocks, water scarcity, crop diseases and weak market access. He said the challenges are systemic and require coordinated solutions.

As part of the government’s strategy, farmers will receive tax exemptions to ease financial burdens and encourage investment. Authorities are also setting up a committee to address licensing barriers and investigate practices that block local produce from reaching markets.

Mareeye noted that imports from countries such as India and Pakistan often enjoy far greater market access than Somali crops, undermining local farmers. The government plans to prioritise staples and cash crops like millet and sesame to increase domestic production and create export opportunities.

Officials and experts from the agriculture ministry, universities and seed companies participated in the workshop, which sought collaborative solutions to expand food output. The government says its reforms aim to reduce hunger, empower farmers and make agriculture a driver of long-term economic recovery.