Some 30,000 vulnerable farmers in South Sudan to benefit from a new United Nations programme that aims to improve their livelihoods by boosting the quality of the seeds they use to produce key crops.
The 612,000 US dollars programme supported by France and South Sudan’s ministry of agriculture will target several states for one year, UN Daily News Digest reported.
The farmers will get training on production, storage and marketing of quality seeds and cuttings of staple crops including maize, cassava, cowpeas and sorghum.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization head in Juba, Sue Lautze, said the importance of seeds to the food security and livelihoods of South Sudan’s farmers and rural communities is very high.
She stressed that despite widespread food insecurity the country is committed to ensure food security for all as soon as possible and that seeds are a critical component to realizing this important ambition.
The programme will increase the availability and quality of seeds to most vulnerable farmers in Central Equatoria, Western Equatoria, Lakes, Western Bahr el Ghazal and Northern Bahr el Ghazal.
It will also provide assistance to 400 seed producers.