Guliba Florence Hakim
Coordinator South Sudan
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South Sudan, Food Sovereignty
Food sovereignty in rural areas in South Sudan.
Project Number: 179.1021
Large areas of South Sudan have been the scene of armed conflicts since the end of 2013, which have not completely ceased even after the 2018 peace agreement. In the remote Pochalla region in the south-east of the country, on the border with Ethiopia, violent conflicts are less frequent. Mission 21 is supporting an integrated agricultural project there: through improved agricultural methods, the partner organization PRDA (Presbyterian Relief and Development Agency) is increasing know-how and thus crop yields. This enables the local farmers to feed their families more diversely and means they do not have to buy expensive imported food. In addition to agricultural support, PRDA facilitates access to water and sanitary facilities.
Background information
The violent conflicts that have plagued South Sudan since late 2013 are exacerbating the security and supply situation for the population. What are the people, especially in rural areas, supposed to live on? How can basic medical care be ensured? These are questions that the Presbyterian Relief and Development Agency (PRDA), a partner organization of Mission 21, has been addressing for many years. In Pochalla, near the Ethiopian border, the PRDA, with the support of Mission 21, is running a large integrated rural development project to provide health and nutrition for the population in the region and to help families improve their household incomes. Food sovereignty is addressed holistically through interventions in agriculture and education, as well as access to water and sanitation.
Project goals
The project aims to improve the living standards of the population in the Pochalla district.
Subgoals:
- Improved food security
- Knowledge transfer in the fields of hygiene, agriculture and nutrition
- Improved health of the residents
Target group
The project supports approximately 1,000 households in Pochalla in their livelihood and food sovereignty. In addition to individuals, the target group also includes farmers' groups and farming families. Special emphasis is placed on the needs of women and children.
Activities
- Training of local staff
- Training of contact farmers. These are trained in improved agricultural methods and participatory approaches and pass on their knowledge.
- Organic farming
- Issuance of seeds, equipment and tools
- Construction of protective devices around wells
- Construction of toilets and washing facilities
- Establishment of a school nutrition program
Project progress
Extensive know-how in agricultural cultivation methods has already been imparted over the past eight years. In the current project phase, the focus is on ecological and sustainable work. The farmers now produce their own organic fertilizer and obtain 50% of their seeds themselves. In 2021, a storage room was built in which seeds and the harvest can be stored professionally. A new kitchen was also built right next door and the school feeding program started work in 2022. In the first year, 100 primary school children received a hot meal every day; since 2023, 350 schoolchildren have been receiving a healthy and nutritious meal every day. This is set to increase in the coming years.
In recent years, Pochalla has been repeatedly affected by locust infestations and flooding. Climate change is very noticeable in this region, which is why prevention will become more of a focus in the coming years.
South Sudan
- About 11 million inhabitants
- 65% of workers are engaged in agriculture
- Over 4 million people dependent on food aid
Project budget 2024
CHF 132'250
Jacqueline Brunner
Responsible church partnerships;
Responsible legacies and bequests
Tel. 061 260 23 37
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