Context
The potential for agricultural production in South Sudan is very high. Following decades of armed conflict, however, the country is not yet able to ensure food security for its people. The aim now is to achieve food security by developing a market-oriented agricultural sector. Together with the sustainable management of natural resources, this will help to improve living conditions.
In December 2013, a renewed outbreak of internal conflict exacerbated the situation in South Sudan further. At the beginning of 2015, around 2.5 million people were suffering from hunger, with a further 6.4 million threatened by food insecurity. Only around four per cent of agricultural land is being farmed while production is stagnating at subsistence level. The cereal production deficit amounts to 408,000 tonnes. South Sudan lacks both well-functioning domestic markets and agricultural extension services.
Objective
Households in rural areas and near towns enjoy greater access to and availability of food on a sustainable basis.
Approach
The project operates on a number of levels. The national Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Cooperatives and Rural Development (MAFCRD) is advised on how to structure an enabling environment for food security, how to develop markets in rural areas as well as how to identify existing development constraints in the agricultural sector. These advisory services have been temporarily suspended as a result of the crisis engulfing the country.
The promotion of market relationships along value chains in food production supports the implementation of national policies for food security and agricultural development.
The introduction of improved production methods and processing technologies and the supply of seeds and small tools mean that the project is able to help smallholders increase their agricultural production and productivity. Training activities and the introduction of appropriate technologies are reducing post-harvest losses.
Additional project services include the development of organisations and associations as well as improved access to financial services and agricultural extension services by private service providers. Infrastructure measures, such as the construction of abattoirs, help to improve the processing of agricultural products.
The project operates in the states of Central, Eastern and Western Equatoria. In addition, activities are carried out in the states of Warrap, Western and Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Lakes, where they are cofinanced by the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
Results
• The promotion of food security value chains as a tool for developing a market-oriented agricultural sector has been firmly anchored within the South Sudanese agricultural strategy.
• 150 decision-makers and facilitators from the field of politics and the private sector have been trained in the methodology of promoting value chains.
• The new coordination structures between public and private decision-makers are used as a platform for developing value chains.
• The promotion of the first value chains, such as for cornmeal, peanut oil and sesame oil, has boosted agricultural production. Support has been provided to a total of 134 farmers’ groups in the form of 14,000 kilogrammes of high-quality seeds, 10,000 fruit tree saplings as well as 15,500 small tools; 51 Farmer Field Schools have been set up and training has been provided to 51 multipliers.
• 110 deep bore wells have been repaired, improving the food security of 44,500 persons in the process by providing access to drinking water.
• The University of Juba has developed a framework curriculum that integrates the value chain approach into its agricultural study programme.
• An agricultural bank has developed agricultural financing products for smallholders and has extended the first loans to farmers’ organisations.
• Reducing post-harvest losses: 11 warehouses with an overall capacity of up to 4,000 metric tonnes have been erected and 830 drying bags for 1,300 metric tonnes provided in Central, Eastern and Western Equatoria through the joint support of the United Nations World Food Programme and the transitional development assistance projects implemented by GIZ.