US embassy cable - 04DJIBOUTI525

C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000525 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF AND AF/E 
STATE ALSO PASS DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE AND USAID 
PARIS FOR NEARY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2014 
TAGS: PREL, EAGR, EAID, PGOV, DJ 
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI'S AGRICULTURE MINISTER OPTIMISTIC ON 
FUTURE AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT 
 
 
Classified By: MARGUERITA D. RAGSDALE. 
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
 1. (C) During Ambassador's March 30 courtesy call on 
Minister of Agriculture Dini Abdallah Bililis, Bililis 
expressed gratitude for USAID funding of a livestock 
marketing/health certification facility and food security 
programs.  He also expressed appreciation for the assistance 
of Camp Lemonier and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of 
Africa, especially in the area of water resource development. 
 On the latter, he stressed the importance of program 
coordination with his Ministry to balance projects among 
donors. 
 
2. (C) The Minister stated that although Djibouti is arid, 
agriculture could be developed with abundant water. 
Desalinization of may be the best source, and Lac Assal might 
benefit most, he added. According to the Minister, studies to 
determine Djibouti's agricultural potential are being 
undertaken with the help of the Food and Agriculture 
Organization (FAO), but with a very small funding amount of 
USD 10,000.  More funding to study Djibouti's potential for 
agricultural development is needed, the Minister stated. 
 
3. (C) Current Djiboutian "farming", the Minister continued, 
consists of small "orchards" in different areas of the 
country, such as in Assamo, As-Eyla, Bankoualeh and Randa, 
where vegetables and fruits are currently grown.  He said he 
realizes that overall development of agriculture in Djibouti 
is a real challenge, but that his government plans to move in 
"step by step" fashion toward that end, beginning with 
reinforcement of existing farming capabilities.  According to 
Bililis, a plan is afoot for a donor round table with 
Djibouti, Morocco, the Islamic Development Bank and FAO to 
secure necessary financing of a meaningful agricultural 
development program. 
 
4. (C) Bililis also confirmed Djibouti's keenness to develop 
its fisheries industry with help from the African Development 
Bank.  There is the need to protect that industry. 
Djibouti's Fisheries Code, he continued, aims more at 
guarding Djibouti's waters from foreign fishing vessels 
primarily from Yemen and Egypt than at facilitating a 
fisheries industry.  However, the South African Development 
Bank is planning to develop a shrimp farm in Godoria, he 
said. The Minister expressed disappointment in an Iranian 
investor who had promised to equip the existing port of 
Djibouti with modern fishing laboratories, but who ultimately 
failed to perform. 
 
5. (C) Comment: The human resource and financial costs of 
agricultural development in the absence of a large market, 
and the lack of skills in sustained agricultural production, 
are the greatest handicaps to full agricultural development 
in Djibouti despite Bililis's optimism. End comment. 
RAGSDALE