South Sudan is the world’s newest nation having a huge agricultural potential that can be leveraged to improve the national economy and household living standards. The country’s endowment of favorable land, water, and weather conditions makes 70 percent of land suitable for agriculture.
The production system remains primarily subsistence in nature and crop yield is low.
Rainfall
The rainfall pattern varies by region ranging from 500 -2000 mm per year and provides growing season of 130 – 300 days. Therefore, agricultural performance varies considerably from climate zone to climate zone and from year to year. Furthermore, the temperatures are typically above 25°C, but rise above 35°C, particularly during the dry season, which lasts four months per year from January to April. In terms of resources, the region is blessed with ample natural and human resources that include vast fertile lands, extensive hardwood forestry, large amounts of fresh water and minerals, and variety of livestock. These endowments have made the region suitable for different kinds of agricultural and economic activities, such as production of food and cash crops, livestock among others.
Crops Grown in South Sudan
The major crops produced include, Sorghum, maize, Rice, Sunflower, Cotton, sesame, Cassava, beans and peanuts. Other crops that are produced in small scale include: coffee, tea, sugar and tobacco. There is also great potential for growing fruits and vegetables such as bananas, mangoes, lemons, pineapples, onions, okra, tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes and cabbages.
.
Livestock
Livestock is of great importance to the economy of the Southern Sudanese, especially for food security, employment and culture. It is estimated that Southern Sudan has a total population of 12 million heads of cattle and 11 million heads of sheep and goats. The larger proportion of the livestock is found in Greater upper Nile and Greater Bahr El Gazal regions.
Labour for Agriculture in South Sudan
Agriculture is the dominant activity in all of South Sudan states as 90% of the population depend on agriculture as their primary activity. The challenges the country is facing include the following;
- Labour is not skilled enough to manage modern farms
- A number of people have moved to urban areas and therefore labour is not where it is required.
- Lack of adequate modern tools to use on the farm
Challenges faced by the agriculture sector
The following are challenges that face the development of agricultural sector in Southern Sudan:
- Inadequate financial services.
- Low/no use of improved technologies.
- Poor rural infrastructure that hampers access to markets.
- Inadequate inputs including seeds, planting material, improved breeds, fertilizers, and tools.
- Low literacy.
- Weak/no agricultural and livestock research and extension services.
- Poor quality animals, lack of animal health services, lack of water and pasture for livestock especially during the dry season.
- Lack of control to pests and diseases of both crops and livestock.
- Shortage of skilled labour.