The Economy

Somalia's economy is mostly agricultural, based primarily on livestock and secondarily on crops. In 1990, for example, agriculture contributed about 65% of the GDP (gross domestic product), of which livestock was responsible for just over 50%, crops 38%, and forestry and fisheries for about 1% each.

Prior to the recent strife, about 60% of the population in Somalia were pastoralists or agropastoralists, and about 20% were agriculturalists. Except for a small number of Somalis who rely on fishing, the remainder of the population were urban dwellers, employed as government workers, shopkeepers, factory workers, and traders.

Pastoralists raise camels, cattle, sheep, and goats. Camels, especially valued for their ability to survive in an environment of scarce water and grazing, provide milk, meat, transportation of goods, and serve as a medium of exchange. Camels are a measure of wealth and status among all rural Somalis and among urbanites, who leave their herds with rural relatives.

Agropastoralists, found primarily in the interriverine areas, rely on a mixture of herding and farming. They usually have a permanent home in addition to their portable huts. The principal food crops, grown by small-scale farmers, are sorghum, corn, sesame, cowpeas, sugar cane, and rice. Commercial crops are bananas, citrus (mainly grapefruit and lemons), vegetables, cotton, frankincense, and myrrh.

www.culturalorientation.net
For more information contact sanja@cal.org .
Designed by SAGARTdesign
This site looks best when viewed using Netscape Navigator 3.0 or higher. Last Updated:02/18/04