About-institution

Feb 21, 2026

  1. Introduction

1. Background and Establishment

The Somaliland Institute of Agricultural Research (SIAR) is an autonomous institution established in January 2021 through a Presidential Decree. It is mandated to conduct agricultural research in Somaliland with the overarching objective of contributing to agricultural development, enhancing food security, and improving rural household income and nutrition.

The institute carries out its research and training activities primarily at the Aburiin Center for Research and Training (ACRET) farm. This center is equipped with basic but essential facilities, including rainfed farmland, administrative and laboratory buildings, and a permanent source of drinking water. Although agricultural research at SIAR is still in its early stages, the institute has, within just four years, established effective collaborations with farming communities, development partners, and academic institutions. This collaborative approach has laid a strong foundation for future growth and tangible impact on the ground.

2. Vision, Mission, and Objectives

  • VISION: A dynamic center of excellence in research and technology transfer, providing sustainable solutions to challenges in agricultural productivity and climate change in Somaliland.
  • MISSION: To contribute to improved livelihoods and strengthened food security in Somaliland through the generation, adaptation, and dissemination of appropriate technologies that enhance crop and livestock productivity, while ensuring the sustainable management of the natural resource base.
  • OVERALL OBJECTIVE: To generate, adapt, and transfer improved agricultural technologies in order to enhance community livelihoods and raise farmer income, while ensuring the protection of the natural environment.
  • GOAL: To contribute to the growth of the agricultural sector through research coordination and regulation; technology and innovation development; and to catalyze the transfer and utilization of agricultural research outputs.

3. Legal Mandate

The mandate of SIAR, as stated in its founding Act, is to:

  • Promote, streamline, coordinate, and regulate research in Somaliland in the fields of crops, livestock, genetic resources, and biotechnology.
  • Promote, streamline, coordinate, and regulate research in crop and animal diseases.
  • Expedite equitable access to research information, resources, and technology, and promote the application of research findings and technology in the field of agriculture.

4. Core Values

The work of SIAR is guided by a strong set of core values:

  • Creative Thinking & Problem Solving: Fostering innovation to overcome agricultural challenges.
  • Professionalism & Integrity: Upholding the highest standards of scientific conduct and ethical behavior.
  • Stakeholder & Customer Orientation: Ensuring that research is demand-driven and benefits farmers and the community.
  • Collaboration: Building strong partnerships locally and internationally.
  • Environmental Consciousness: Promoting sustainable management of natural resources.

5. Organizational Structure

SIAR is structured into technical divisions and specialized units to effectively deliver its mandate. Institutional capacity building is ongoing to further strengthen the institute’s research scope and technical expertise.

A. Technical Divisions

1. Cereals, Pulses, and Oilseeds Research Division

This division is dedicated to the introduction, evaluation, and development of improved crop varieties to enhance food security and diversify agricultural production.

  • Objectives:
    • Evaluate and adapt improved, high-yielding crop varieties with desirable qualities.
    • Diversify the crop species and varieties available to Somaliland farmers and consumers.
    • Introduce and adapt improved and sustainable crop production practices.
    • Evaluate and adapt integrated methods of pest and disease management.
    • Transfer improved production technologies to farmers through demonstration and extension.
  • Key Achievements & Ongoing Trials: To date, the division has evaluated 122 cowpea varieties, 24 sorghum varieties, 25 millet varieties, and 32 pigeon pea varieties. It has also imported 156 wheat varieties for evaluation. Planned trials include 25 chickpea varieties, 27 groundnut varieties, and promising rice varieties.

2. Fodder, Animal Feed, and Rangeland Management Research Division
This division is committed to supporting sustainable livestock production—the backbone of Somaliland’s economy—through research into improved fodder and rangeland management.

  • Objectives:
    • Advance applied research in fodder and forage crops to support sustainable livestock production and soil management.
    • Evaluate and improve fodder and forage crops, including local landraces.
    • Introduce and test new high-yielding and resilient forage species.
    • Conduct exotic species mapping to identify adaptation potential.
    • Generate evidence-based recommendations for farmers and stakeholders.
  • Key Activities: Research covers trials on lablab, Blue panic, Bracharia cv Mulato II, Buffel grass, Johnson grass, Sudan grass, thornless opuntia, Napier grass, and high-biomass millet. Integrated crop protection research includes fodder-based push–pull systems for managing Tuta absoluta and fall armyworm in maize. New species such as desmodium, Super Napier, Tanzanian grass, Juncao grass, Sugar Graze, Fedha sunflower, cassava, and Rhodes grass are also being assessed.

3. Horticulture and Post-Harvest Management Research Division

This division focuses on improving the productivity, quality, and value of horticultural crops to enhance farmer incomes and nutrition.

  • Objectives:
    • Conduct systematic research on a wide range of horticultural commodities, including vegetables, fruit trees, indigenous plants, ornamentals, and plantation crops.
    • Evaluate and improve production practices, including plant density, fertilization, and irrigation.
    • Develop and promote post-harvest management technologies to reduce losses and improve marketability.
  • Key Activities: Studies have been conducted on sweet potato (effects of different plant densities) and onions (under varying fertilizer rates). Future plans include introducing improved varieties of orange-fleshed sweet potato, capsicum, and tomato.

 

 

4. Administration and Finance Division

This division provides the essential operational and financial management support required for the institute to function effectively. Its core functions include:

  • Human Resources (HR): Managing recruitment, staff development, performance management, and employee relations to build and maintain a motivated and skilled workforce.
  • Finance and Accounting: Overseeing budgeting, financial planning, accounting, procurement, and ensuring compliance with financial regulations and donor requirements.
  • Procurement and Logistics: Managing the procurement of goods, services, and equipment, as well as overseeing logistics, asset management, and maintenance of institute facilities and vehicles.

Specialized Units

  • Germplasm Unit: Responsible for the collection, characterization, maintenance, and preservation of local landraces of food crops and fodder grasses. This genetic material is vital for future plant breeding and research, ensuring the conservation of Somaliland's unique agricultural heritage.
  • Soil Laboratory: Tasked with analyzing soil samples to determine fertility status, nutrient deficiencies, and soil health. This provides the scientific basis for developing site-specific fertilizer and soil management recommendations.
  • Seed Multiplication Unit: Focuses on the multiplication of pre-basic and basic seed of improved and farmer-preferred varieties, ensuring the availability of high-quality planting material for dissemination to farmers and partners.

6. Research Priority Setting

To ensure its work is relevant and impactful, SIAR identifies and prioritizes research topics based on a clear set of criteria:

  1. National Priority Goals:
    • Alignment with national short- and long-term development objectives.
    • Urgency of the research problem.
    • Focus on areas that are neglected but of critical national importance.
  2. Importance of the Commodity:
    • Its absolute and relative contribution to the agricultural industry.
    • Its role in farmer household income and food supplies.
    • Its potential for foreign exchange savings or earnings.
  3. Productivity Potential:
    • Current and potential productivity per unit area.
    • Value of the product per unit area and per unit of input.
  4. Likelihood of Utilization of Research Results:
    • Ease of adoption by smallholder farmers.
    • Social implications and employment generation.
    • Value of required inputs (especially imported ones) versus the value of product increment.
    • Contribution to nutritional needs.
    • Potential for productivity gains and improvements in handling, storage, processing, and marketing.
    • Positive or negative environmental impacts.
  5. Technical Feasibility:
    • Availability of qualified scientific and support personnel.
    • Availability of necessary facilities (laboratories, field stations) and equipment, either locally or through partnerships.
  6. Avoiding Duplication:
    • Reviewing existing research programs to ensure new projects complement and strengthen, rather than duplicate, ongoing efforts.

7. Strategic Objectives (2025-2030)

In line with national aspirations, SIAR has defined the following strategic objectives to guide its development and activities over the coming years:

  1. Improve Institutional Research Capacity: To strengthen the technical expertise of SIAR staff and upgrade laboratory and field research facilities.
  2. Conserve and Utilize Genetic Resources: To systematically collect, purify, characterize, and document local landraces of food crops and fodder grasses for breeding and preservation.
  3. Introduce and Evaluate Climate-Resilient Varieties: To introduce and test new, high-yielding crop and fodder varieties specifically suitable for the rainfed (dryland) conditions prevalent in Somaliland.
  4. Develop and Promote Water-Smart Agriculture: To research and promote the potential of in-field rainwater harvesting techniques, including permanent planting pits (zai or tassa), to improve the resilience of dryland cropping systems on smallholder farms.
  5. Strengthen Stakeholder Capacity: To enhance the knowledge and skills of farmers, extension agents, and other stakeholders through targeted training programs and demonstration plots.
  6. Improve Crop Productivity and Quality: To generate and disseminate improved production practices and technologies that lead to higher yields and better-quality produce.
  7. Enhance Post-Harvest Management and Market Linkages: To introduce new methods for reducing post-harvest losses and link farmers to better markets.

 

Contact information:

Somaliland Institute of Agricultural Research (SIAR)
Near Guled Hotel, Road Number 1
Hargeisa, Somaliland
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +252 63 99 9 9933