Food in Somalia

Somalia has a functioning but fragmented food system rather than one nationwide provider. Farmers produce sorghum, maize, cowpeas, vegetables and fruit, while pastoral communities supply milk and livestock products. Fishing is especially relevant in coastal towns. Rice, wheat flour, sugar and vegetable oil depend heavily on imports, and imported cereals are common in cities. Local food is often called cunto or cuntada; caano geel means camel milk. Halal food is a religious and market practice, and hospitality commonly includes tea and shared meals. Food availability changes with the seasons and local livelihoods. The Gu rains usually occur from April to June, Deyr from October to December, and Jilaal is the dry season from January to March. Karan affects the northwest from June to September, while Xagaa influences the southern coast from July to September. The Juba and Shabelle valleys support irrigated farming, Bay is a major sorghum area, Lower Shabelle is associated with maize, and northern and central areas rely more on pastoralism and seasonal livestock movement. Drought, floods, conflict and transport problems can quickly reduce supply and raise prices. Recent conditions show the risk clearly. The 2025 Deyr maize and sorghum harvest was about 15,600 tonnes, around 75% below the reduced five-year average. Total 2025 grain production was about 147,700 tonnes, around 4% above the five-year average, but local cereal prices remained under strong pressure. About 6.5 million people were assessed at Crisis level or worse during February and March 2026. Milk production also remained low after drought. Households obtain food through formal markets and import chains, farms, livestock, fisheries, informal community exchange and humanitarian food, cash or nutrition programs. There is no nationwide universal food entitlement, and assistance depends on time, funding, security and program access. Food affordability differs between urban, rural and nomadic households; regional price data from the Somali Integrated Household Budget Survey and National Bureau of Statistics support comparisons, but no single national price applies. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, Ministry of Livestock, Forestry and Range, Federal Ministry of Health and Human Services, Somali Bureau of Standards, Somali Disaster Management Agency and regional authorities each cover parts of the system. The Somali Bureau of Standards works under the Somali Standards and Quality Control Act No. 27 of 2020, which provides for food standards, inspection, certification and quality marks. A National Food Safety Policy dated 22 July 2024 was still a draft, so its provisions should not be treated as fully implemented nationwide. Enforcement differs by region and capacity. Nutrition concerns include insufficient quantity, limited variety and micronutrient shortages. Children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, internally displaced people and pastoralists affected by drought face particular risks. Complementary feeding generally starts at six months with safe water and hygiene. Somalia officially launched regulation of breast-milk-substitute marketing in 2026; breastfeeding began within one hour for about 60% of infants, exclusive breastfeeding under six months was about 34%, and continued breastfeeding was about 49% at one year and 40% at two years. Health workers and community programs provide nutrition support, including therapeutic food and micronutrients. Food practices range from household cooking to urban restaurants and coastal seafood providers. Typical meals may combine canjeero, soor, cambuulo, bariis, pasta, suqaar, meat, milk, tomato, onion, beans or fruit. Sustainable food planning focuses on climate-resilient sorghum and cowpea seed, water management, rangeland and livestock health, animal-feed supply, sustainable fishing and stronger local value chains. FAO, WFP and government partners address these issues through the Food Systems for Somalia initiative, while conflict, drought, overgrazing, floods and weak infrastructure continue to limit progress.