A Survey of Livelihoods Activities of Households in Shirwac Village, Borama District, Somaliland

Abstract

This study investigated the major livelihoods activities of households in Shirwac village, Borama district. The household livelihoods activities in Somaliland have not been surveyed and are not documented. Guided by the Theory of Sustainable Livelihood and using a cross- sectional survey design, this study determined the household livelihood activities in Somaliland, by taking the case of household activities in Shirwac village. The study specifically investigated the general types of, and the major household livelihoods activities. A random sample of 66 households in Shirwac village was surveyed using questionnaire and observation methods in July-August 2018, and analyzed using chi-square test of goodness fit. The study found that most households use livestock and crop farming, daily labours, selling firewood and petty trade different livelihood activities. But the major ones are livestock rearing and crop production. The study concludes that the livelihoods activities of households in Shirwac village generally depend on livestock rearing and crop production. The study recommends that the Ministries of Agriculture, Rural Development and other nongovernmental organizations to create village focused household income generation projects to empower the household activities. The government of Somaliland through ministry of agriculture, ministry of livestock and ministry of rural development should carry out regular surveys of household livelihood activities.