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Modernise and transform the agricultural sector

Agriculture is the backbone of the economy of South Sudan. It is evident that close to 90% of the population lives in rural areas, with agriculture, forestry and fisheries providing the primary livelihood for the majority of the households in each state of South Sudan

South Sudan has huge land resources with a great potential to produce food to meet its needs, and that of neighbouring countries. Many sources have estimated that 75% of the country’s land area is suitable for agriculture (Crops, Fisheries, Livestock, Floriculture and Horticulture) while, approximately over 50% of South Sudan land space is arable, and therefore suitable for cultivation. However, it is very unfortunate that most of the food sold in the market in South Sudan is imported and a significant proportion of food insecure people rely on imported food aid.

Agriculture is the backbone of the economy of South Sudan. It is evident that close to 90% of the population lives in rural areas, with agriculture, forestry and fisheries providing the primary livelihood for the majority of the households in each state of South Sudan. Much of the rural sector activity is currently focused on low-input low- output subsistence agriculture instead of production for markets. Significant challenges facing agricultural sector are:

Weak entrepreneurship base and absence of commercial farming. Agriculture remains a subsistence activity by smallholder farmers using simple methods.

  • Weak or non-existent capacity to provide farm and off-farm extension services to farmers. The public sector extension and veterinary/animal care services are extremely limited. Inspection services are weak in enforcing standards and lack equipment and training. There is critical lack of trained community animal health workers.
  • Lack of agricultural productivity-enhancing technologies. There is little use of improved varieties of seed or breeds of livestock. Crop farmers save their seed for planting in the next season, and there is little selection for improved varieties. There is a need for improved varieties that are resistant to common diseases and which are more productive. The traditional livestock breeds could increase productivity by upgrading the genetic base, but market incentives to improve quality are lacking.
  • Poor and inadequate infrastructure. Lack of developed trunk and feeder roads, railway, electricity and transport systems as well as ICT, inhibit movement of goods and services into and out of rural areas, increase the cost of transportation and dampen producers’ incentives to generate surplus. The absence of rural and feeder roads and, therefore, access to domestic, regional and international markets are a key bottleneck to increased agricultural production. Similarly, the near complete absence of rural electrification limits the choice of farm implements and the adoption of modern farming techniques.
  • Weak markets and non-existent market information systems. South Sudan has yet to achieve the level of mobile voice and data telecommunication that is now commonly available in many rural communities in Africa. In addition, the absence of ICT in rural communities limits market information generation and dissemination. This also restricts market size, outreach and agricultural value chains development. Consequently the economic benefits of modern telecommunication still elude rural communities in South Sudan.
  • Lack of microfinance facilities. Formal banking services are still extremely limited in South Sudan. There are no financial services for the agricultural sector; for producers or for agricultural businesses.
  • Weak farmer/producer organizations. Right now, many of the producer members do not farm as a business, and decisions are not made based on cost/ benefit basis. There is little ability to calculate costs of production and to use market information to determine if products will be competitive and profitable in markets. Extremely weak literacy and numeracy skills, particularly among women, are constraints to smallholders becoming commercialized.
  • Shortage of farm labour. Even though 90% of the population of South Sudan lives in rural areas, close to 80% of farm labour is provided by women who combine this activity with their other domestic chores. Farming is not viewed favourably, as a befitting profession, by young men and women, who often migrate to cities. In addition, farm labour, when available, is expensive and often lacks appropriate skills and the incentive to work.
  • Unclear land tenure and demarcation. Uncertainties pertaining to property rights and access to land are major challenges hampering agricultural development in South Sudan. Largescale farming requires access to land with unambiguous rights to profitably develop the land. Having a uniform national land law and transparent ownership rights and obligations will facilitate the decision of foreign investment in agriculture in South Sudan. In addition, given the predominant role that women play in farming, the laws must be gender sensitive and accord women the right to land ownership as well.
  • The need for improved agricultural inputs and techniques such as seeds and fertilizers, storage facilities and advisory services, and irrigation development;
  • The difficulties faced by farmers in accessing markets due to nuisance taxes and charges, including bribes;
  •  The lack of a critical mass of farmer and rural producer associations as a means of entering the market place with the aim of minimizing the cost of inputs, accessing loan finance at affordable rates and influencing farm-gate prices.

The SDP Government shall be determined to achieve a modern, diversified, innovative and commercially-viable agricultural sector that leads to production, industrialization, and enhanced trade and markets. This will lead to improved standard of living by good nutrition, affordable food, wealth creation and decent livelihoods for all the South Sudanese.

To achieve the above, the SDP Government shall prioritize agriculture, by allocating more financial resources to the sector, in order to address the following critical areas:

1.1 Enhance Agricultural production

In order to modernise and transform the agricultural sector to increase production, and make it become an all- inclusive, transparent and diversified agricultural sector, the SDP government shall implement the following:

  • Development of infrastructure such as trunk and feeder roads, railway, electricity and transport systems as well as ICT to facilitate transport and productivity.
  • Establish an Agricultural Financial Institution to support the agricultural sector, by encouraging youths and women to start up small scale farming through low interest loans;
  • Support the small-holder farmers to commercialise and gain access to both domestic and international markets;
  • Support subsistence farmers, through government sponsored programmes so that they can produce more food for their families.
  • Encourage and support large scale commercial and corporate producers in the agriculture sector;
  • Promote the certification of seedlings and other vegetatively propagated planting materials;
  • Encourage and support commercial production of livestock (cattle, sheep, goats, chickens, guinea fowls) of improved genetics;
  • Encourage and support fish farming among women and youths, to meet the market demand of fish which is in short supply, which shall in turn create wealth and contribute to nutrition levels;
  • Promote wildlife husbandry (game ranching);
  • Promote the cultivation of tree crops such as avocados, citrus, mangoes, cashew nuts, etc.
  • Promote growing of industrial hemp and cannabis for medicinal purposes;
  • Establish institutions which shall be responsible for the certification of livestock breeds, fish species and breeding programmes.
  • Establish institutions that shall manage agricultural loan schemes that enable farmers to grow and expand to a higher production level. The youths and women will be especially targeted for this program.
  • Encourage diverse production inputs to cover a wide range of crops, livestock and fisheries, across the country to targeted farmers with the potential to expand;
  • Encourage traditional authorities to avail more land to farmers, especially the youths and women, in their chiefdoms for expanded production;
  • Enact laws that make it easy for farmers to gain access to arable lands for agricultural production purposes.
  • Encourage the formation of unions and associations to advocate on behalf of various sections within the agricultural industry.
  • Invest in construction of public dams and irrigation schemes for agricultural purposes;
  • Privatise the operations of dams and irrigation schemes for the purposes of efficiency;

1.2 Modernisation of Agriculture, Technical Training and Technologies

The SDP Government shall:

  • Provide technologies to support innovation and improve productivity in agriculture;
  • Invest in research and development including establishment of national research laboratories for control of diseases for livestock and fisheries as well as pest control;
  • Invest in improved livestock breeds through artificial insemination;
  • Invest in research and certification of tree crops;
  • Establishment of electronic and technical information platforms for agricultural sector;
  • Establish at least one veterinary centre in each county and train more veterinarians to take care of the livestock;
  • Establish one modern and well-equipped college of agriculture in each state;
  • Endeavour to eradicate all major animal diseases to enhance livestock production and economic improvement.
  • Provision of enough agricultural tools and equipment, to support land cultivation;
  • Encourage and support the use of animal draught power, with the necessary tools as per the various levels of producers;
  • Encourage and support breeding of draught animals such as oxen and donkeys, for use in the areas of need;
  • Increase the availability of farming machineries such as tractors to increase productivity;
  • Incentivise private sector investment in the assembly and production of appropriate agricultural tools and equipment inside South Sudan;

    1.3 Mechanization of Agriculture and Value Addition

    Agricultural industrialization and value addition are vital in spurring production, growth and enhancing exports, creating employment and business opportunities for all South Sudanese.

    The SDP Government shall work to support establishment of Agro-Processing facilities inside South Sudan to promote and support the development of the following agro-industries which will be spearheaded by South Sudanese:

  • Timber/wood processing industry;
  • Leather, wool, and skin industry for livestock, crocodile, etc;
  • Horns and hooves, to cover ornaments, glue, tooth picks, spoons, etc;
  • Industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis industry;
  • Fruit processing and preservation industry;
  • Feed and nutrition for livestock and fisheries.

    11.4 Agriculture Trade and markets

    The Sunrise Democratic Party shall endeavour for the goal of making our people have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life at all times. South Sudan shall produce enough food at home for domestic consumptions as well as for exports. Trade and market policies will be focused on promoting a whole spectrum of agricultural commodities including livestock, fisheries, and crops as well as associated by-products.

    In order to support an effective, predictable, diversified and efficient market for agricultural products, the SDP Government shall:

  • Develop a coherent crop marketing and export policy;
  • Production support services, with the inclusion of the private sector to provide various services including input delivery and mechanization;
  • Develop agro-industrial processing centres such as milk processing centres, aquaculture parks, cold chains (refrigeration from source to market), aggregation centres and milling plants, etc.
  • Strengthen agricultural market information systems to improve market efficiencies and competitiveness in the region;
  • Promote the participation of the private sector in agricultural commodity markets through farmer groups, cooperatives, aggregators, and commercial agribusinesses;
  • Establish border policies that will facilitate agricultural trade;
  • Expanding agricultural markets, value chain development and finance, with a special emphasis on

    agribusiness development;

  •  Achieve and maintain food security, social development and fighting climate change.