Seeds for Development Brochure

SOUTH SUDAN

USAID Seeds for Development Improving Food Security in the Green Belt of South Sudan

SOUTH SUDAN

USAID Seeds for Development – More Grain from the Green Belt

South Sudan has great agricultural potential – arable land, sufficient rainfall, sources of irrigation, and a government committed to agricultural development. But this potential remains largely untapped. USAID Seeds for Development is helping to support national efforts to scale-up food production and empower smallholder farmers and agro-entrepreneurs.

The voucher program Subsidized vouchers – modeled on other IFDC projects in Africa – have helped introduce fertilizers and high-yielding maize hybrids into traditional farming systems. n Nearly 900 tons of fertilizer and

90 tons of seed distributed in two seasons (2012 and 2013).

n Second season: 14,351 farmers

received vouchers; 11,373 vouchers redeemed. Target exceeded by 100 percent.

n Supplementary voucher program

launched in May 2013; will reach over 1,000 farmers.

n High proportion of women

Bigger harvests, better nutrition

n First season: 3,855 farmers

Detailed impact assessments are ongoing, but field data indicate substantial increases in maize yield.

beneficiaries: 30 percent in 2012; 38 percent in 2013. received vouchers; 2,900 vouchers redeemed.

Empowering with knowledge Training programs helped ensure that crops were well managed and inputs effectively used. MAFCRD now has trained staff who can lead future programs at grassroots level. n Nearly 300 agro-dealers and

90 MAFCRD staff trained.

n Over 15,000 farmers sensitized

to the use of fertilizers, hybrid seeds and improved crop management practices.

n Farmers report increases ranging

from 50 percent to nearly 300 percent.

n Typically, maize yields increased

from 7-8 bags to 12 bags per acre. Skilled farmers: from 10-15 bags to 26 bags on average.

t Cover: Peter and Jennifer Ale harvested a bumper crop, as did almost every farmer who used hybrid seeds and fertilizers. u Right: Farmers get hands-on experience laying out and planting a maize demonstration plot in Rejaf, Juba County. u Back cover: Voucher distribution, community meetings and training programs were designed to encourage women to participate.

“I had only two vouchers – if they allowed me, I would have taken four vouchers and paid the money, because I know how much maize I will get.”

– Paul Lomo, farmer in Lasu payam, Yei County

Demonstration plots allowed farmers to see first-hand the benefits of fertilizers, improved varieties and good crop and soil management.

They also provided hands-on training in planting and fertilizer use methods. n 170 demonstration plots

Creating a knowledge base Project surveys have created a knowledge base to guide future programs. In most cases these surveys were the first ever to be conducted in South Sudan. n The farmer registration

established in 10 counties, visited by over 600 farmers.

n 90 field days planned for June-

database – over 15,000 households – will help identify and target vulnerable groups.

July 2013, will reach a projected 5,000 farmers.

n Surveys in three states identified

over 200 private enterprises (agro-dealers, commodity traders, farmer associations, financial institutions) involved in input and output marketing.

n Soil surveys on nutrient status

and deficiencies in three states – a prerequisite for soil fertility management strategies.

n Crop protection products –

prices, availability and chemical analysis of agrochemicals available in Juba, priorities for market development and regulation.

n Farm surveys in Central and

Eastern Equatoria – household profiles, crops and varieties, constraints, and factors limiting technology adoption.

Building the future USAID Seeds for Development was a pilot project to demonstrate that innovation could succeed even in areas with traditional subsistence farming and little infrastructure.

In less than two years – despite formidable logistics challenges – it has laid a solid foundation that others can build upon. n Every dollar invested in input

subsidies through the project yielded $10 of extra grain.

n A scaled up program could

reach 100,000 farmers within three years, reducing South Sudan’s food imports by at least 40 percent.

Partners

n Ministry of Agriculture,

Forestry, Cooperatives and Rural Development (MAFCRD)

n International Fertilizer

Development Center (IFDC)

n Alliance for a Green

Revolution in Africa (AGRA)

n USAID Food,

Agribusiness and Rural Markets Project (FARM)

Goals

n Promote broad-based

agricultural productivity and economic growth through technology transfer and agroenterprise development

n Increase food production,

food security and income

n Increase use of modern

agro-inputs

n Build agro-dealer

capacity

n Strengthen market

linkages

Target areas

n The Green Belt – Eastern,

Central and Western Equatoria states

n Input distribution

in Eastern and Central Equatoria, demonstrations and training programs in all three states

SOUTH SUDAN

Seeing is believing

SOUTH SUDAN

USAID Seeds for Development

IFDC Headquarters

c/o FARM Project Offices Plot 16, Block A Airport Ministry Road Juba, South Sudan Tel. +211 954 341 667 Email ifdcsouthsudan@ifdc.org

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 East & Southern Africa Division

Š IFDC 2013. All rights reserved.

For more information, visit www.ifdc.org.

icipe Duduville Campus P.O. Box 30772-00100 Kasarani, Thika Road Nairobi, Kenya Tel. +254 (20) 863 2720 / 2722 Fax +254 (20) 863 2029 Email ifdckenya@ifdc.org