Livelihood Baseline Profile - Northwest Agro-Pastoral (Sorghum and Cattle), September 2011
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Livelihood Zone Description
• North West Agro-Pastoral (NWAP) livelihood zone extends west of Togdheer agro-pastoral livelihood and is bordered by West Golis Pastoral to the North, Hawd Pastoral to the south and Zone 5 of Ethiopia to the west.
• NWAP lies between latitudes 90 17’ to 100 10’ N and longitudes 440 43‘ to 420 50’ E, and occupies approximately 6590 km2.
• Topography ranges from 1700 -1050 m above sea level.
• NWAP is a prime crop (sorghum and maize) and cattle production area.
• The livelihood exhibits bimodal rainfall: with the main Gu/Karan rains lasting from April-August and Hays rains from January-March.
• Temperatures in March-October range from 30-35oC and drop to 11oC from October to February. Parts of the area have been under sorghum and maize cultivation since the 1930s and in the 1990s it was the only significant area of sedentary cultivation in Somalia.
• Most of NWAP is composed of scattered acacia trees, but in the arid areas of the northeast, grasslands give way to a combination of low brushes and grass clumps.
• The main water sources are Ballis (rainwater catchment) in the slopes of the Golis mountains and shallow wells in the northern part.
• Crop, livestock production and trade are the socio-economic activities in the livelihood that contribute significantly to meeting HH food consumption needs.