South Sudan secures US$46.2M grant from AfDB to enhance agriculture production

SOUTH SUDAN- African Development Bank’s (AfDB) Board of Directors has approved a US$46.2 million grant to South Sudan to support the Climate Resilient Agri-Food System Transformation Program to improve agricultural productivity and enhance food security. 

According to AfDB, the first phase of the Program will be implemented from September 20224 to December 2030. 

Themba Bhebhe, AfDB’s Country Manager, revealed the Program’s activities are intended to produce an additional 350,000 tons of cereal (mostly sorghum and rice) and 2,450 tons of fish. 

The funds will be utilized for purchasing agriculture equipment and machinery, providing extension services to farmers, training and access to markets. This will go a long way in improving agriculture value chains, making South Sudan more competitive in the global market.  

The Program has four main tangible objectives. The first is the large-scale deployment of climate-smart production systems and technologies. The second objective is strengthening agriculture value chains in South Sudan, especially those owned by women and the youth. 

The third objective is to promote digital climate advisory and agricultural solutions. The fourth objective of the Program is to impart entrepreneurial and technical skills that create jobs for the people. 

The Program will span the states of Eastern Equatoria, Central Equatoria, Jonglei, and Bahr el Ghazal in the North. It will be implemented in nine counties and 32 districts (payams) in these counties.  

Bhebe said, “They will strengthen agricultural value chains and entrepreneurship, creating at least 200 more agri-food businesses that are more profitable for women and young people.” 

The Climate Resilient Agri-Food System Transformation Program will be implemented via South Sudan’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN in a hybrid implementation arrangement that will gradually build the country’s capacity for project management.  

Agriculture is the primary source of income for 95% of the country’s population, employing an estimated 70.5% of the country’s labor force. However, South Sudan’s agriculture potential remains significantly underexploited. Although 95% of the country is arable, only 4.5% of the land is utilized for agricultural production.  

The country also suffers severe food insecurity, with 63.1% of the population (7.1 million) struggling to access sufficient food.  

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