Somaliland’s hydroponic hope: The sustainable farming initiative growing food security 

The crisis: Somaliland’s ongoing drought 

Families in Somaliland rely on livestock and crops as a source of nutritious food and reliable income. But this devastating drought has claimed the lives of at least 3.5 million livestock—a catastrophic loss that has plunged communities into food crises.  

With their livelihoods destroyed, millions of people have been forced to flee their homes, searching for food and safety for their children. Many families now live in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, where they still struggle to protect and meet their children’s basic needs.  

Learn more about Somaliland’s drought crisis. 

The solution: Hydroponic hope in Burco 

Children in crisis aren’t weathering this emergency alone.  

SOS Children’s Villages partners with families in Burco’s IDP camp to create something transformative: a hydroponic greenhouse that delivers food security with climate-smart agriculture.  

Learn more about how you can help children in the climate crisis.  

Hydroponic farming is an innovative method of growing plants with nutrient-enriched water instead of soil. With less water usage, faster growing rates and year-round production, this agricultural adaptation ensures families can eat year-round—despite drought conditions.  

Now, families in Burco grow and harvest spinach, lettuce, tomatoes and other nutritious vegetables.  

“This was once just an empty field,” Abdi, a proud greenhouse gardener, said. “Now we grow, we eat, and we share. We’re not waiting—we’re working.” 

Beyond food: Building long-term resilience 

With this emergency support, immediate food security meets long-term solutions for children and families. 

In addition to the hydroponic greenhouse, this initiative helped establish 15 family gardens, trained women who had never farmed before how to grow their own food and taught young people valuable skills in composting, seed care and garden management.  

Meaning: Families, young people and children have the climate-smart farming knowledge they need to feed their loved ones and earn a sustainable income—proving that climate adaptations help children thrive no matter the environment around them! 

Learn more about the effects of climate change around the world. 

Innovative, sustainable farming can create food security, even in crisis zones. With your support, more families can grow food security in drought, turning empty fields into thriving sources of childhood nutrition and future hope. 

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