Seeds for Development Brochure

SOUTH SUDAN

USAID Seeds for Development Improving food security in South Sudan’s Green Belt

SOUTH SUDAN

USAID Seeds for Development – Demonstration Plots in South Sudan Funded by USAID and the Howard G. Buffet Foundation, the USAID Seeds for Development project began in October 2011. The project is helping South Sudan successfully introduce agro-inputs (particularly hybrid seed and fertilizer) and promote their proper use in

“We’re also helping agro-dealers increase their inventories by linking them to manufacturers and suppliers and to credit facilities.”

– Rob Groot, Director IFDC East and Southern Africa Division

order to increase agricultural production and productivity. These steps will lead

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to increased food security and income generation.

The project is jointly implemented

by IFDC and AGRA. AGRA is responsible for strengthening the nation’s crop breeding capacity and IFDC is championing access to, awareness of and proper use of quality fertilizer and quality seed of superior varieties supplied through a network of agro‑dealers.

In partnership with USAID’s Food, Agribusiness and Rural Markets (FARM) program, IFDC and AGRA established nearly 6,000 technology transfer demonstration plots across three Equatorial states to train farmers on good agronomic practices and proper use of inputs through practical demonstrations. The Agricultural Market Development Trust (AGMARK) was sub-contracted to identify and train agro-dealers. This activity is being carried out in collaboration with South Sudan’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

IFDC is also responsible for a subsidized input voucher program to encourage small-scale farmers to use improved seed and fertilizer. A network of agrodealers is being built up. A pilot program in July 2012 distributed vouchers to 3,800 farmers in three states. More than three-fourths of the farmers redeemed their vouchers; 290 tons of fertilizer and 29 tons of hybrid maize seed were distributed. The program is being scaled up to reach at least 8,000 farmers in 2013.

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Demonstration plots are very successful in convincing farmers to use proper agro-inputs.

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established 25 new demonstration plots across three Equatorial states in 2012. These demonstration plots are helping to educate agro-dealers and farmers and offer the agro-dealers the opportunity to prove their value to farmers by providing information on the proper use of agro-inputs.

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2) Demonstration plots are established in collaboration with agro-dealers, agricultural training centers and FBOs. Farmers are being trained on the proper use of agro-inputs.

3) Crop performance is impressive. The difference between the unfertilized plots (left) and the properly fertilized plots is quite noticeable. Farmers who were initially resistant are now convinced that fertilizer use will greatly increase their yields (and incomes).

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4) USAID Seeds for Development is designed to help South Sudan increase food production through the proper use of agro-inputs and to encourage the establishment of agrodealer shops.

SOUTH SUDAN

USAID Seeds for Development c/o IFDC South Sudan Airport Ministry Road Farm Project Offices Near Tongping Business Centre Plot 16, Block A Juba – Sudan Tel. +211 954 341 667 / +211 921 285 752 Email ifdcsouthsudan@ifdc.org

IFDC East & Southern Africa Division c/o IFDC Kenya icipe compound Duduville – Kasarani, Thika Road Nairobi – Kenya P.O. Box 30772-00100 Tel. +254 (20) 863 2720 / 2722 Fax +254 (20) 863 2029 Email ifdckenya@ifdc.org

IFDC Headquarters P.O. Box 2040 Muscle Shoals, Alabama 35662 USA Tel. +1 (256) 381-6600 Fax +1 (256) 381-7408 Email general@ifdc.org Website www.ifdc.org © IFDC 2012. All rights reserved.

For additional information about IFDC and/or the USAID Seeds for Development project, visit www.ifdc.org.