Siman Hybrid: Revolutionizing Maize Farming for Prosperity in Somalia

Siman, the ground-breaking hybrid maize introduced by Filsan Seed Company, stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation in agriculture. Born out of a fruitful partnership with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and nurtured through years of rigorous testing for adaptation to local conditions in Somalia, Siman was officially registered in October 2023, heralding a new era for variety release in Somalia.

The registration by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (FMoAI) marked the beginning of Siman’s journey, and the results have been nothing short of remarkable. In comparison to local maize varieties, Siman boasts a staggering 30 to 50% increase in yield potential. This hybrid not only exhibits uniformity in the field but also matures a week earlier than local varieties and performs better under moisture and nutrient stress.

Siman owes its origins to CIMMYT’s Stress Tolerant Maize for Africa (STMA) program, generously supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and USAID. Filsan secured exclusive rights to Siman’s parental lines in 2020, paving the way for a transformative impact on maize farming in Somalia.

Deeq Agriculture Cooperative led by Farhia Mohamud Mohamed, a forward-thinking farmer from Beledul-Amin village in Afgoi, embraced Siman wholeheartedly during the Gu 2023 growing season. Purchasing 125 kg of Siman for her women’s cooperative farmers, they planted the hybrid on a 5-ha plot while dedicating the rest of their land (25 h) to local maize. The results were staggering — a harvest of 136 bags of Siman grain each weighing 100 kg, compared to a mere 120 kg from the local variety on the remaining 25 ha. With a larger seed size and remarkable uniformity, the cooperative experienced not only a faster sale but also commanded a 10% higher selling price in the market.

Farhia joyfully recounted, “We harvested a bumper crop this season and we were able to sell our produce faster with a 10% additional selling price than the local.” The success story echoed across other farmers who invested in Siman hybrid seed, fostering a wave of prosperity among farming communities.

During the Deyr 2023 season, Deeq Agriculture Cooperative allocated 20 hectares of land for Siman production. The demand for seeds was a lot higher for Farhia, rising from 125 kilograms in Gu 2023 to 500 kilograms for the Deyr 2023 season. However, the associated cost of $2 per kilogram made the acquisition of the required 500 kilograms of seeds a formidable challenge for Farhia.

Fortunately, Farhia was able to overcome this financial hurdle through the seed subsidy program facilitated by IRiS (Inclusive Resilience in Somalia) project. This program played a crucial role in alleviating the financial burden, enabling Farhia to afford the necessary seed quantity and successfully proceed with planting during the Deyr growing season. The collaboration with IRiS not only eased the financial strain on individual farmers like Farhia but also contributed to the overall success and sustainability of agricultural initiatives within the cooperative.

Filsan produced 20 MT of Siman seed during the Gu 2023 season. Almost all the seed was sold to the farmers in the Lower and Middle Shabelle Regions at the onset of the Deyr 2023 season. A strategic sales approach saw 50% of the seed reaching farmers through direct sales by Filsan, while the remaining 50% was sold through a promotional program supported by the IRiS and SSG seed interventions. Through these programs, strong market linkages were developed with agri-dealers and Village Based Agents in the lower and middle Shabelle regions.

Because of challenges such as heavy rains and flooding, many farmers opted to preserve their Siman seed for the upcoming growing season, a testament to the resilience and confidence inspired by this hybrid maize.

Looking ahead, Filsan envisions scaling up the production and marketing of Siman hybrid seed to farmers. The journey began with limited seed marketing in 2023, followed by planned expansion into new geographical areas and to more farmers. This visionary approach ensures that the transformative impact of Siman continues to unfold, promising a brighter and more prosperous future for maize farming communities.