By Otto Abut
The Minister of Livestock and Fisheries, Onyoti Adiku, has called for long-term investment in South Sudan’s livestock sector, saying sustainable rangeland management and greater support for pastoral communities are essential to economic growth, food security, peacebuilding, and climate resilience.
Speaking at the opening of a two-day National Policy Dialogue marking the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP 2026) in Juba on Tuesday, Adiku described the event as “a national call for action” to transform the country’s livestock sector through stronger policies and partnerships.
He said South Sudan possesses one of Africa’s richest pastoral economies, with more than 60 percent of its land comprising rangelands that support an estimated 12 million cattle, 14 million goats, and 13 million sheep.
“These resources sustain millions of citizens, provide food and income, preserve pastoral cultural heritage, and represent one of our greatest opportunities for inclusive economic growth,” he said.
However, Adiku acknowledged that the sector continues to face major challenges, including climate change, land degradation, livestock diseases, inadequate infrastructure, limited veterinary services, weak market access, and conflicts over natural resources.
He noted that many violent conflicts in South Sudan are linked to livestock, including clashes among cattle keepers and disputes between herders and farming communities.
“It needs us to look into these issues seriously and amicably so that we get a solution,” he said, stressing the need to establish livestock migration corridors to reduce conflict between pastoralists and farmers.
The minister said humanitarian interventions alone would not address the sector’s challenges, calling instead for sustained investments to strengthen institutions, restore degraded ecosystems, modernize livestock production, improve animal health services, promote peaceful natural resource governance, and expand economic opportunities in rural communities.
To achieve this vision, Adiku outlined six government priorities including; Strengthening sustainable rangeland governance and protecting livestock migration corridors,Restoring degraded rangelands through climate-smart management, Modernizing veterinary services and disease surveillance, Promoting peace through equitable natural resource management, Expanding livestock value chains, processing industries, and regional trade and Investing in women, youth, research, innovation, and skills development.
He said the government, with support from the World Bank, is implementing the Livestock Sector Resilience Project, which focuses on improving animal health and rangeland management. He added that a national natural resources strategy has also been developed and is awaiting validation.
Adiku urged development partners, financial institutions, the private sector, researchers, civil society organizations, and pastoral communities to work together to build a modern, resilient, and competitive livestock sector.
“The time has come to shift from short-term response to long-term investment,” he said. “Every investment in rangeland restoration, animal health, market infrastructure, climate resilience, and pastoral livelihoods generates multiple returns, including increased productivity, improved food security, stronger rural economies, reduced conflict, and greater national stability.”