Agriculture
Agriculture
South Sudan is one of the most fertile countries in the world. It is said that it could provide ample food for itself as as its six neighbouring countries. Sadly, due to ongoing conflict, COVID-19, flooding and locust swarms, only 4% of suitable land is cultivated and millions have been left struggling to eat, dependent on food aid.
“Food insecurity in South Sudan has reached the most extreme levels since independence in 2011.”
What's the solution?
AID has begun to support small-scale agriculture projects in South Sudan. These are run by leaders in the community and enable families to provide for themselves and develop an income.
We provide funding for training and resources (such as seeds and tools) so our partners on the ground can move forward with farming. Project leaders from the community organise and monitor the agricultural work of preparing land, sowing, tending, reaping and selling produce.
For example, our partner Bishop Seme Nigo Abinda runs an agriculture project for his community, the Keliko people, who fled South Sudan (an area called Panyana) and now live as refugees in Uganda. Another project supports internally displaced families in Gondokoro, South Sudan. It is run by members of the Gondokoro community.
Without this collaboration, these communities would not have land to farm, seeds to plant or, ultimately, crops to harvest. They would be stuck in the struggle to find food and income. AID continues to offer support to enable these projects until they become self-sustaining. In the long term, we hope to see this sort of work spread across the nation.
How can I help?
You can help South Sudan begin to feed itself by donating and by praying. The most useful way to give is to set up a monthly standing order (anything from £5 to £500 makes a difference!) but we gladly welcome one-off gifts to all our projects.
More about agriculture in South Sudan
Find out more from AID trustee Lord Donald Curry in this interview.
"The potential in South Sudan for growing its own food, for developing its agriculture, is huge. And it's so frustrating that in a fertile country like South Sudan, with the Nile running through it - it has some of the most fertile land in Africa - and yet because of conflict, because of civil war, because of tribal disruption, they grow very little of their own food... They suffer from famine and so there is a huge challenge and a huge opportunity to help South Sudan grow its own food."
Lord Donald Curry, an AID trustee, is an agricultural expert with decades of experience in farming business and politics.
