Gov’t receives over $120 million to pump into agriculture
South Sudan has received more than $120 million from donors to implement the comprehensive agriculture master plan.
Speaking during the commemoration of the International Day of Disaster Management last Thursday, Dr. the Undersecretary of Agriculture, John Kanisio, hailed the move, saying it would help address food insecurity in South Sudan.
“Despite the fact that we don’t get the money from finance to implement our comprehensive master plan, the ministry of agriculture has partnered with donors, the World Bank, IFAD, the international fund for agricultural development, and the African Development Bank,” he said, adding, “We are the largest recipient of donor money in the country.”
He said that at least three projects are being implemented by development partners for transparency and accountability reasons, but are being coordinated through the ministry’s project coordination unit.
“A project on locust risk, agriculture development, and a project on safety net are in the pipeline. We are expecting to run a project of 130 million. That means by next year, we may have a project close to 300 million under the ministry of agriculture. “
“Be happy. We are doing something, but we expect to use our own money to do much more. “Dr. Kanisio stated.
Kanisio explained that the comprehensive agriculture master plan is prepared for long-term development per the vision of South Sudan 2040, which includes a supplementary irrigation development master plan.
“These are some of the projects that will transform agriculture from where it is now to a surplus producer and even commercialized to meet the food security needs and to lead forward now to prosperity.”
The ministry has developed a food security crisis preparedness plan and response that will be released soon, according to Kanisio.
An estimated 7.74 million people or 62.7 per cent of the population, are predicted to experience Crisis (IPC Phase 3), or worse, acute food insecurity between April and July 2022, with 87,000 likely to experience Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) acute food insecurity, according to the report of integrated food security phase classification (IPC)— a tool being used to assess the country’s food security status.
This is primarily in Jonglei State’s Fangak, Pigi, and Ayod counties; the Pibor Administrative Area; Lakes State’s Cueibet and Rumbek North counties; and Unity State’s Leer and Mayendit counties. According to the report, an estimated 2.90 million people are likely to experience acute food insecurity during this time period.
Flooding in recent months, combined with inter-communal conflict and soaring food prices, have driven South Sudan into its worst hunger crisis since its independence in 2011. There are increasing numbers of children at risk daily from malnutrition, disease, and snakebites, according to a report released on October 14, 2022, by Save the Children.
