Abdul Hakim Mohamed

Somali engineer who pioneered modern irrigation systems in East Africa

Abdul Hakim Mohamed (1905-1968) revolutionized agricultural practices in Somalia through his innovative irrigation systems that transformed arid regions into fertile land. Trained in Berlin's Technical University, he returned to his homeland to design the Hadado Irrigation Project - the first large-scale gravity-fed system in the Horn of Africa. His 1940s research on water conservation techniques, documented in 《Modern Irrigation for Arid Regions》, became standard texts for African engineers. He also established the Somali Agricultural Institute which trained over 500 technicians. His work is celebrated in the African Engineering Heritage Society. Despite challenges from colonial authorities, his systems increased crop yields by 300% in Somaliland regions. His memoir 《Water in the Desert》 provides firsthand accounts of his engineering innovations.