Mareerey is a small rural village with a population of over 800 families from marginalized communities. It is located 7 kilometers south of Afgoye city (South West State of Somalia) and 36 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu, Somalia. The village is renowned for its fertile soil, suitable for crop production in almost all seasons. The Shabelle River passes through the village, providing irrigation to the farms in the area.

Among the inhabitants of Mareerey is Mrs. Fadumo Haji Hassan, a single mother with 10 children (5 boys and 5 girls) to feed. She owns 4 hectares of land inherited from her late parents, and her dream was to become a successful farmer who could support her family and save from her farm income to survive during droughts.

Challenges and Initial Situation

Due to Fadumo’s financial status and the high cost of energy for land cultivation, Mrs. Fadumo could only manage to cultivate one hectare of her land, leaving the rest largely uncultivated.

Discovery of Assistance

Mrs. Fadumo heard about an agriculture company, “CATCO”, supported by IRiS (The Inclusive Resiliance in Somalia) program, mobilizing sesame farmers in Mareerey village. She approached the company and explained her situation. Fortunately, she inquired about the program in time, which, in addition to technical support, also partially supports farmers in land preparation and cultivation.

Acceptance and Progress

Mrs. Fadumo met all the requirements and was successfully selected as one of the beneficiaries. Her journey towards transforming her farmland began there. The IRiS program provided her with tractor hours for land preparation, including plowing, harrowing, and ridging. Additionally, she received training on the importance of complete land preparation and application of GAP.

Community Connection and Support

Furthermore, IRiS connected Mrs. Fadumo and other beneficiaries to trained Village-Based Agents (VBAs) of the contracted Sesame Company (CATCO), who regularly share their insights and experiences with her.

Achievements and Impact


Today, Mrs. Fadumo’s success story continues to inspire others who are not direct beneficiaries of the program. She is working closely with the IRiS contracted sesame company to promote good agricultural practices in the village. Through her perseverance and the support she received from IRiS, she turned her difficulties in managing her many hectares into opportunities and transformed her dream of cultivating more than one hectare of land into a reality.

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