A new programme in the Republic of South Sudan is helping vulnerable farmers to improve their livelihoods.

With the support of the French government, FAO is joining efforts with the South Sudanese Ministry of Agriculture to implement a year-long programme in several states. The project, valued at more than € 500,000, will help to train farmers in the production, storage and marketing of quality seeds and cuttings for staple crops like sorghum, maize, cassava and cowpeas. It will also increase the availability of seeds to South Sudan's most vulnerable farmers.

Decades of conflict and displacement have taken their toll on farmers' access to quality seeds and other planting materials, and eroded their knowledge of seed production techniques. Together, these factors have severely undermined crop productivity and farmers' livelihoods.

Sue Lautze, the head of FAO's office in Juba said, "The importance of seeds to the food security and livelihoods of South Sudan's farmers and rural communities is very high. Despite widespread food insecurity, the country is committed to ensuring food security for all, as soon as possible. Seeds are a critical component to realizing this important ambition."

The programme aims to help an estimated 30,000 people from more than 5,000 vulnerable farming households in the states of Central Equatoria, Western Equatoria, Lakes, Western Bahr el Ghazal and Northern Bahr el Ghaza. FAO said the work would also benefit 400 seed producers and empower women

Moves to make farming 'seed secure'

Michael Legge, Minister for Agriculture and Forestry for Central Equatoria State said, "We know that the formal seed sector in South Sudan is underdeveloped and in desperate need of rehabilitation. South Sudan relies heavily on neighbouring countries for certified seed, which is costly, and farmers rely on the informal seed sector."

More than 90 percent of South Sudanese farmers still depend on the informal seed system, which is based primarily on saved seeds (42 percent), social networks (26 percent), and local markets (22 percent). Typically, farmers repeatedly use saved seeds from one season to the next, which tends to lessen the genetic purity of the seed.

Farming families are 'seed secure' only when they have access to adequate quantities of seed, of acceptable quality, and in time for planting. These three key elements of seed security (availability, access and quality) are of concern in South Sudan.

Improving the country's ability to produce quality seed would help to inject money into the local economy and provide training that would benefit farmers for years to come.

The project will include seed fairs, capacity development for seed enterprises, input distribution and Farmer Field Schools. It will also increase the amount of land dedicated to quality-seed multiplication.

FAO said it has been supporting the seed sector in South Sudan for several years. In 2011 nearly 5,000 vulnerable households, 513 seed producers and 23 government extension workers benefitted from a similar project funded by the French government

Although South Sudan has enormous agricultural potential, it faces multiple challenges to realising national and household food security, according to FAO.