2014/03/11/Somali farmers benefit from al-Shabab reforms

title/short::Somali farmers benefit from al-Shabab reforms It is just after 8am and Sheikh Abu Abdullahi is busy inspecting what he refers to as his latest "anti-NGO" project: workers digging new canals in Bulo Mareer, a town in Somalia's Lower Shabelle province.
 * when: when posted::2014/03/11
 * author: author::Hamza Mohamed
 * source: site::Al Jazeera
 * topics: topic::Somalia topic::non-governmental organisation topic::al-Shabab
 * keywords
 * link: URL::http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2014/03/somali-farmers-benefit-from-al-shabab-reforms-201431053038814400.html
 * title: title::Somali farmers benefit from al-Shabab reforms
 * summary: In Somalia's breadbasket, many welcome al-Shabab's move to expel foreign aid groups and build canals.

The diggers have been at work since 6am, as part of a province-wide canal-building project that was launched about two and a half years ago. Al-Shabab - the al-Qaeda-linked rebel group fighting against Somalia's internationally backed government - has so far spent about $2m on the project, along with others like it in south and central Somalia, according to the group.

Three months have passed since the last drop of rain hit Bulo Mareer, but thanks to the numerous canals and waterways, the town is lush and green.