November 3, 2022, Juba, South Sudan – The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Resilience through Agriculture in South Sudan Project today announced the donation of seeds, tools, and equipment to six organizations based in South Sudan that will distribute them to smallholder farmers and nascent micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises to improve food security and livelihoods in Akobo, Budi, Jur River, Kapoeta North, and Wau counties.
The materials valued at more than US$130,000 include seed varieties representing a diversity of crops to promote improved nutrition, agricultural tools and equipment, fishing equipment, fish cold storage, and supplies to support Village Savings and Loan Associations, all in support of farmers and local businesses.
Political conflict, compounded by economic woes and floods, has caused massive displacement, violence, and dire food shortages in South Sudan. Most of South Sudan is in a state of acute food insecurity or worse, in a food emergency, indicating severe levels of acute and chronic malnutrition. Over seven million people — about two-thirds of the population — are in need of aid, including around 6.9 million people experiencing hunger. Food security deteriorated further with 7.7 million people estimated to face crisis levels of hunger with the onset of the July to August lean season, the time between harvests when food stores are low.
“USAID can see clearly that many people are struggling with food security, especially in some of the most rural counties across South Sudan,” states acting USAID Mission Director for South Sudan Darren Manning. “Our Resilience through Agriculture in South Sudan Project is working closely with other local partners and government structures to help not only deliver much needed agriculture and livelihood supplies, but also training and best practices so that farmers can get more out of each harvest, community businesses can be set on a path to economic growth, and communities can recover faster from inevitable stressors such as floods, drought, and conflict.”
Grantees will target agro-input sales agents, farmers, farmer organizations, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, and fisheries and fisherfolk with activities ranging from last mile distribution of agricultural products to fish preservation and production. Grantees include:
1. The Christian Agency for Relieve and Development: Received seeds, agricultural tools and equipment, and supplies for VSLAs. Focus counties: Jur River and Wau.
2. Rural Women for Development South Sudan: Received seeds, agricultural tools and equipment, and supplies for VSLAs. Focus county: Kapoeta North
3. Farm Stew South Sudan: Received seeds, agricultural tools and equipment, and supplies for Village Savings and Loan Associations. Focus counties: Jur River and Wau.
4. Saint Monica Agency for Peace and Development: Received seeds, agricultural tools and equipment, and supplies for Village Savings and Loan Associations. Focus county: Budi
5. The Grassroots Relief and Development Agency: Received seeds, agricultural tools and equipment, fishing equipment, and supplies for Village Savings and Loan Associations. Focus county: Akobo
6. The Hope Agency for Relief and Development: Received fishing equipment and fish cold storage. Focus counties: Jur River and Wau.
About the USAID Resilience through Agriculture in South Sudan Project
The USAID Resilience through Agriculture in South Sudan Activity is a four-year project designed to improve food security and community household recovery and resilience in 13 target counties across five States. DAI implements Resilience through Agriculture in South Sudan with sub-contractors CARE International, International Fertilizer Development Center, and The Waterfield Design Group, Inc. The Activity employs a resilience pathways approach to improve the effectiveness of local systems and strengthen the capacities of community groups to achieve three primary outcomes: promote gender-responsive and diversified market-sensitive production; facilitate increased production of diverse nutritious foods by strengthening productivity, reducing food loss, and improving nutrition behaviors; and strengthen and expand household and community opportunities for sustainable, locally driven livelihoods. Taken together, these activities will help graduate communities from crisis, emergency, and famine to less acute phases of food insecurity per the Integrated Phase Classification (IPC), and ultimately support a transition from reliance on humanitarian assistance to development and economic growth.
