The soil survey in the North-West Region, which was begun in October 1980 and March 1981, covers an area of about 350,000 ha, in which the soil and land were mapped at a scale of 1/500,000.The survey was carried by SOGREAH consulting Engineers on behalf of the Democratic Republic of Somalia to study and prepare: -A soil classification Map -A land suitability map for integrated rainfed cultivation inorder to asses the area's suitability for agricultural development The aim of the study is to develop irrigated and rainfed agriculture in the North-west Region of the country The region of coverage extends between latitudes 9 and 11 30' North and longitudes 42 30' and 45 East and is characterised by a climate that is arid (coastal plain) to semiarid(plateau) and a rainfall regime which shows marked differences from one point to another (cf. report on hydrology and climatology), with mean annual precipitation ranging from 50 mm (coastal plain) t o 500 mm (plateau).