Transforming Livelihoods
Transforming Livelihoods
South Sudan is entering its sev-enth year of independence and although open conflict with the north has ceased, local politics and tribal animosities have torn the country apart. This internal conflict, which seems to ebb and flow unpredictably, has severely disrupted trade, humanitarian access and livelihoods. Moreov-er, poor macroeconomic conditi-ons constrain household market access.
Overcoming Adversity
Although, farmers in South Sudan live in poverty, they own some of the most fertile agricul-tural land on the continent—made all the more potent with historically favorable climatic conditions. The country however, has been experiencing acute food shortages with relief suppli-es being imported from contine-ntal Europe, Asia and the USA. This has fueled a crippling depe-ndency syndrome, and tragically illustrates the profound irony faced in the country—abundant resources, human and agricultu-ral, but hamstrung in its ability to effectively derive full benefits from both.
Reversing Declines
The value chain from farmers’ fields to the buyer or consumer can be enhanced in many ways, the most obvious being in the field with improved seeds and other modern agricultural inputs; but that is only one link in the chain. Today, Information & Com-munication Technologies (ICT) have become mandatory whether it be in an industrial, agricultural or humanitarian environment. Advantech, one of CFS’s consorti-um partners, specializes in ICT and is designing the software upon which the SSFSP will run, thus bringing the existing and inefficient value chain practiced by the farmers into the 21st century. This involves full farmer management and reporting.