Mareerey village, Bal’ad District, April-June 2025
ACCESS and Nuros9 jointly supported a community-led effort that returned the 540-metre of Ahmedey primary canal to use and connected irrigation recovery with farmer training, tools, seeds and local dialogue.
Technical surveys confirmed that the canal extended farther than first recorded. Working with the canal committee, local leaders and community members, the activity cleared and rehabilitated the full alignment. Around 50 community members participated in excavation and adjustment works, and the canal reopened in time for the Gu planting season.
The restored waterway enabled cultivation on an estimated 20 to 30 hectares, with additional land holding irrigation potential depending on Shebelle River levels. Thirty-five farmers, 20 men and 15 women, also completed practical training on land-use planning, maize and cowpea production, crop rotation, intercropping, pest management and improved farm productivity.
By combining shared infrastructure, agricultural skills and cooperation between farmers, pastoralists and local leadership, the activity helped restore both livelihoods and confidence in Mareerey.