Kenya Defence Forces soldiers serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) have set up demonstration farms to enhance their sharing of horticultural knowledge with the locals especially youth and women.
The farms which are situated at the Dhobley Forward Operating Base in Jubaland State continues to attract admiration from the residents of the town for it boosts their agribusiness skills.
The farm bears an assortment of crops that includes onions, water melons, tomatoes, kales among others. Additionally, the soldiers have also set up another demonstration farm on brick making as a way of making affordable decent housing, an initiative lauded by Brigadier Paul Njema, the Sector II Commander.
“Part of the Amisom mandate is to ensure harmony and progress amongst the communities within which we operate. As Amisom and KDF in particular, we are privileged to work closely with not just the Somali Security Forces (SSF) but also the local authorities and the local communities primarily in the pursuit of peace and security; and furthermore in enhancing development initiatives.”
” As Amisom works towards gradual hand over of security responsibilities to the SSF we are determined to leave behind an economically empowered community,” he said;
Br. Njema added that the empowerment of women is particularly is a key driver towards peace since they are the ones who bear the most brunt during conflicts.
Now operating under the Somali Transition plan in which Amisom is set to handover security responsibilities to the Somali Security Forces, KDF continues to work with Somali Security Forces and the local populace to hasten the pursuit of peace and stability in the country.
