Dr. John Garang Memorial University of Science and Technology Pioneers Rice Cultivation Amid Flooding in Jonglei State, South Sudan
South Korean peacekeepers, United Nations officials, residents and other volunteers plant a new variety of rice at the Dr. John Garang Memorial University campus in South Sudan in October 2023. IMAGE CREDIT: UNITED NATIONS MISSION IN SOUTH SUDAN
By Lueth Reng Lueth, Bor, South Sudan
Thursday, 11 July 2024 (PW) — In South Sudan, sorghum has long been the predominant staple food crop, cultivated across all states and accounting for 80 percent of the national staple food supply. This abundance places South Sudan among the world’s leading sorghum producers. However, over the past five years, farmers in flood-prone states have suffered significant losses as their sorghum crops succumbed to widespread flooding, submerging vast agricultural areas.
The planet has already warmed by 1.1 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times, a seemingly small increase that has become the primary driver of the annual flooding and a cascade of other dangerous climate change effects. The 2023 Global Hunger Index provisionally categorized South Sudan’s hunger situation as alarming, highlighting the severity of the country’s food security challenges.
As forecasts predict heavier rains coupled with inflation, the looming hunger crisis threatens to worsen, with flood waters poised to damage countless farms. Anticipating this dire scenario, Prof. Abraham Matoc Dhal, Vice Chancellor of Dr. John Garang Memorial University of Science and Technology, initiated a collaboration with the UNMISS unit of ROK-HMEC to establish a rice demonstration farm.
This innovative project aimed to test rice’s viability in the region. If successful, the initiative would be adopted in Jonglei state, where flooding is a recurring phenomenon, and potentially replicated in other similarly affected parts of South Sudan. The first organic rice harvest proved successful, and local farmers who had doubted rice’s ability to thrive in the soil were invited to witness the harvesting ceremony and taste the locally grown produce.
During the launch of the rice pilot cultivation programme, Prof. Abraham Matoc Dhal stated, “Today, we are inaugurating a rice research and training centre focused on diversifying agricultural production. By incorporating rice alongside our traditional sorghum crop, we aim to enhance food security and bolster South Sudan’s overall agricultural sector.”
Speakers at the event, including Hon. Kuol Manyang Juuk, Senior Presidential Advisor, and Advocate Mahlodi Sam Muofhe, South Africa’s Ambassador to South Sudan, commended Prof. Abraham Matoc Dhal for spearheading what they described as “a noble and life-serving initiative that will guide the country toward social and economic development.”
The Faculty of Agriculture at Dr. John Garang Memorial University of Science and Technology envisions seeking science-based solutions for agriculture, conducting high-quality research, reducing hunger, and improving the well-being of South Sudan’s people.
The success of rice cultivation initiatives is not limited to Jonglei State. In Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, the Aweil Rice Scheme has emerged as a beacon of hope for food security. In November 2023, Governor Tong Akeen Ngor launched the harvest season at the scheme, located adjacent to the Ministry of Agriculture’s former premises. The state government has reiterated its commitment to enhancing the productivity of the Aweil Rice Scheme, recognizing it as a cornerstone of their agricultural development strategy.
It is widely acknowledged that a country unable to feed itself is not truly free. This collaborative research has paved the way for local farmers across South Sudan, particularly in flood-prone areas, to adopt rice farming as a viable option amidst climate change, fostering economic prosperity and food security. This dedication to rice cultivation across multiple states demonstrates South Sudan’s growing recognition of rice’s potential to address food insecurity and promote economic development throughout the nation.
The writer is an environmental and climate advocate, and also lectures at Dr. John Garang Memorial University of Science and Technology, Department of Environmental Science. He can be reached at luethrengluethdit@gmail.com
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