Christian Action for Relief and Development is the development arm of the Episcopal church of Sudan in the Diocese of Wau, implementing food security projects in two archdeaconries Wau and Marial Baai respectively.
Summary of the report in pictures. By Andrew Apiny Macham st
The 36 month project started on 1 July 2012, seeks to reduce the incidence of general and acute malnutrition among rural households in Western Bahr el Ghazal. In line with these aims, the following two interlinked specific objectives have been formulated:
Specific Objective 1: To improve the food security and nutrition of particularly disadvantaged and marginalised people in Western Bahr el Ghazal. Specific Objective 2: Strengthen local institutions to better address food insecurity and climate threats.
The expected results of the intervention, leading to the achievement of these objectives are:
increased production and diversification of agricultural production increased awareness on nutrition issues improved and accessible marketing system increased food access for vulnerable IDPs and returnees
A multifaceted approach will be applied and incorporates building the capacities of partners, counterparts, stakeholders and the creation of a demand-driven service delivery to farmers, prioritising community ownership while reinforcing and working through existing structures. It also incorporates a rights-based approach (claimmaking capabilities of target groups) to food security. The project aims to collaborate closely with the government and other development actors within the context of the WBS Strategic Plan, which is currently in the making.
The report with pictures
ICCO conducted M &E training to project staff, after which they were issued certificates of attendance. The four days training for M&E was for project staff such as extension workers, and project coordinators from various NGOs. It was conducted by the consultant hired by the Interchurch Organization for Development
Co-operation (ICCO) the leading agency of the consortium.
1816 Agriculture tools were procured and distribution to 482 households these include water cans, axes, hoes, Maloda, Rakes The beneficiaries selection was based on the following: vulnerable but have Labor power and are able to work
and a household that has cattle, goats/sheep, and donkey but lacks a hoe, rake, wheelbarrow, shovel
or axe. Households finally who are moderately or severely food insecure, a moderately insecure household is one sacrifices food quality more frequently by eating a monotonous diet or undesirable foods sometimes or often, and/or has started to cut back on quantity by reducing the size of meals or number of meals.
350 maloda were procured and distributed to the farmers A Maloda is an indigenous tool used in South Sudan; it is using for weeding, gardening and digging,
The tractor is digging demonstration plot for farmer’s field training This tractor was hired by CARD to clear the demonstration plot to training to conduct horticulture training for the farmers.
The farmers receiving their agriculture tools to start working on the farms in Kangi After the selection of the beneficiaries the farmers were given tools by the extension officers from all project sites to start working on their farms.
28 farmers are undergoing Animal traction training Kangi Twenty eight farmers had undergone animal traction training in Alelthony after which they were given ploughs by the extension workers. The farmers were very happy with the training and tools they have been given by CARD.
This is one of the farms that has been cultivated by ox-plough in Alelthony The farmers were trained by extension workers in technical parts, such as yoking, pulling, tiring the bull
The farmers had started clearing the demonstration plot after the tractor had turned the soil. (Masna Bieria Demo plot in Wau Municipality) The farmers had started working on their demo plot in Masna Bieri along the river, after which they will set up nursery beds with the help of the extension workers
Farmers are now at the stage of setting up their nursery beds on the demonstration plot ( Baryar Demo plot) The farmers are now setting up their nursery beds on demo plot in Baryar singing and laughing and working together in team work.
The farmers had sat in line ready to receive their seeds in Kangi Payam while the dog wonder what is happing The extension officer in Jur River County informed all farmers in kangi payam to come for seed distribution early in May 2013. In response the farmers came most of whom are women.
The beneficiaries of Kohrmalang Demo Plot were given vegetable seed, each farmer received 25kg of Onion, Cabbage, Egg plant, Tomato, Cucumber, and Pumpkin. Each also received 50kg of Okra seed. The seeds are given only to the farmers who had attended horticulture training for three months on the demo plots, these farmers had undergone horticulture training and are now qualified to receive seeds and establish their own kitchen garden in their respective homes.
This is a close up shot of one of demo plots in Masna Talim in Wau municipality The horticulture training is practical training conducted on a demonstration plot, this is a sample of one egg plant nursery bed on demo plot for one farmer in Masna Talim
The farmers plants are now growing and starting to yield a crop This is another farmer’s okra nursery bed established in Korhmalang Demo plot during the horticulture training conducted by the extension workers
Staple crops which were distributed to farmers had start yielding The staple production crops, which were distributed to the farmers in Ajugo May 2013 are now yielding, the yield is estimated to be good.
The farmer’s plants yield is now visible and will soon be ready for harvesting The tomatoes which were distributed to the farmers are now yielding in their respective homes where farmers had established their kitchen gardens. This is one of our beneficiary’s kitchen garden in Baryar
The staple crops which were planted in May 2013 in Alelthony are now ready for harvest The staple crops planted in all the project sites including Ajugo, kangi, Alelthony, Barliny, Dhekou, Baruliedh, Warnyaliel are doing very well and the farmers in these locations are now harvesting their crops.
The farmers had started preserving their seeds using their traditional way of seed preservation. The sorghum seeds are tied together on one rope and hung inside the house
This is how Luo of South Sudan perserve their seeds for the next season they are put together on one rope and hung inside the house like the one in this picture. Preserving seeds is part of the CARD philosophy of self reliance, during distribution the farmers were told to keep some seed for the next season, we are target a different group each year.
This is one of the largest farms, located in Barliny, its 5 fedans are planted with groundnut only. Groundunt is one of staple crops of production in which CARD has distributed 2852kg to farmers. Most of the farmers have cultivated about 2 to 15 fedans.
Onion has done very well both on demo plots and in the kitchen gardens, and this is just a sample of the rest. This is belonging to Akello Uguak in Alelthony, a demo plot in Jur River County. Because of smallholders’ focus on staple crops as the main food component, the local diet is not diversified. There is limited knowledge on and awareness of nutrition and sanitation, resulting in malnutrition and other health-related problems. CARD wants to diversify vegetable crop production to help improve nutrition and with it health too.
Egg plants are one of the most resistant plants during dry season and had done very well in all project sites. Most farmers appreciated it and some have earned some income from it. Vulnerable communities are unable to purchase food, due to poverty, limited livelihood options and lack of a savings culture. Even if households dispose of some small income, food is either not available in the local markets, or access to markets is hampered by factors such as distance, poor infrastructure (roads and
communications) and dysfunctional markets. Market imperfections also limit their ability to sell any agricultural surplus and consequently earn an income that would permit them to buy (more diversified) food items. CARD helps farmers to get their product in to the market through conducting a marketing information system. As a result of this some of the farmers have sold their products and had earned some income from their products.
This is one of the kitchen gardens in Masna Biera for Jumbia Kuerich, the yield and quality are both good
Rural poor and vulnerable target populations were unable to produce sufficient quantities to meet their nutritional needs. The constraints and root causes were linked to poor, ineffective and unsustainable farming practices and a focus on monoculture. Specific problem areas in this respect are:
1) Insufficient technical know-how, poor access to improved technologies. 2) Poor access to resources such as land, quality agricultural input, BDS and financial sources. 3) Insufficient organization of farmers, all resulting in low productivity and production.
These constraints were further exacerbated by dependency on climate (rain-fed agriculture) and vulnerability to natural hazards such as frequent drought or erratic rainfall linked to climate change that resulted in water logging and/or floods.
Rebecca Abuok a beneficiary from Kohrmalang, has established a kitchen garden and her plants have done very well. She has sold some of her produce in the local market and got 350 South Sudanese Pounds
Vetegable crop production has gained momentum in project sites. At first beneficiaries were resistant due to the fact that they were not familiar with these crops but after attending practical training and having seen the benefit, they came to appriecate them because the new crops generated some income for the family and provided a balanced diet.
This is another traditional method of preserving seeds for the next season, they are tied in bundles and hung on the trees.
After attending farmers business training conducted by CARD Uliny Uyu had initiated an artifact business in addition to his farming career and since then he started earning reasonable amount from both activities.
Traditional artifacts are becoming a source of income according to the manufacturer of these traditional artifacts. The initial the ideal of making these artifacts was to revise old practices and maintain the waning Luo cultures which were badly weakened by colonial rule in 19th century. However, during the English period of 1855-1956 they were forbidden not to produce, or mine iron.
This is how the Luo in South Sudan, preserve their semsem, the semsem are tied in bundles with rope and tied with a long rope on the pole, then after they had dried up they are threshed. Semsem is not one of the target seeds, however, CARD beneficiaries have planted them and the project staff encouraged them and support technically to grow it since it is one of their home grown plants.
The lady is the ICCO regional officer for the Eastern and Western Africa Manager, next to her is ICCO PSTP Program manager, next to him is Dorcas Aid Country Director and the last is ICCO Country Program Manager for South Sudan and Sudan The three managers from ICCO paid a visit to a CARD project site and had interaction with beneficiaries, finding out the benefit of the project from the beneficiaries.
The farmers brought their produce to the agriculture show in Wau. The guy holding microphone is the announcer showing the government official the produce , at the right is State Governor Rizik Zachariaria, at the right to Governor is the Minister of Agriculture, and at right of the minster is State Legislative speaker Andrea Mayar Acho and other state government official that attended the agriculture show .
Western Bahr el Ghazal State s minister of Agriculture asked all NGOs implementing food security in the state to ask their beneficiaries to bring their products on the World Food Day Under the theme: “Agricultural Cooperative-key to Feeding South Sudan� on every 16th to 18th October yearly. It was from that background CARD brought their beneficiaries with their produce for display.
CARD is the development organization of the Episcopal Church of Sudan Diocese of Wau located in South Sudan.
www.wau.anglican.org