WFP transforms fortunes of smallholder farmers in Yambio

By Awan Achiek

Smallholder farmers in Yambio of Western Equatoria State have seen their earnings double beyond what the local market provides.

 Under the World Food Programme (WFP) Smallholder Agriculture Market Support (SAMS), the farmers in Yambio have raked in 369,979 U.S. dollars in 2024.

The farmers under Yambio Farmers Agri-Business Cooperative (YAFA) of Western Equatoria State supplied over 25 metric tons of maize to WFP since the start of this year.

Anthony Ezekiel Ndukgo, Chairperson of YAFA, said that they have supplied 5 metric tons of maize grain to the WFP, adding that they also supplied over 20 metric tons to various businesspeople.

“We still have more maize which we need to sell to any person who may need it,” Ezekiel said during an interview with The Dawn in Yambio.

Ezekiel said their Cooperative has planted and harvested enough crops this year.

He noted that they have also sold 300 bags of maize grain to traders in neighboring Lakes State State and Western Bahr El Ghazal and Juba.

“Last year in our Cooperative, we sold 300 bags of maize to business people who came from Wau and others came from Rumbek,” Ezekiel said.

The Smallholder Agriculture Market Support program started in 2018, and has supported smallholder farmers, especially women and youth to improve their livelihoods and agricultural productivity.

The project targets about 40,000 smallholder farming households under cooperative societies across the country.

It helps small scale farmers to increase production, reduce post-harvest losses, access new markets and increase incomes.

In addition to transforming livelihoods of farmers, it has helped to address food insecurity and malnutrition in the country by stimulating local food production and boost local economy.

In Western Equatoria State, 3,000 smallholder farmers have benefited from SAMS in the counties of Yambio, Nzara, Ezo and Tambura, Ibba, and Maridi.

Amos Valerio, Chairperson of Gitikiri Farmers’ Cooperative in Yambio, said the project has changed the earnings of farmers under the cooperative.

“The quality of maize and groundnuts which we have in our store is 5 tons of groundnuts and we have already sold out maize,” Valerio said.

“Our farmers in Yambio are doing well in terms of production. This year, in my household, we produced 2 tons of maize which is 55 bags,” he added.

Valerio disclosed that the program helps to connect them with buyers.

“Before the support of WFP, the harvest was very poor because nobody was helping us and most of our crops failed but now due to the help of WFP through Star Trust Organization (STO), we produced and WFP buys from us,” Valerio said.

According to Valerio, the support from the WFP has enabled him to buy a pair of pigs and goats which he rears for income.

He said that if WFP provides them with equipment to grind the maize grain and a warehouse to store their food products, they would ease the costs of post-harvest and processing food.

 “We have availability of maize in our location, and if WFP can help us with grinding machines we would be able to process the maize,” Valerio said.

Loice Wilson, a 31 -year -old mother of seven, said she has benefited from the program a lot, ever since she joined Gitikiri Farmers’ Cooperative seven years ago.

 “After joining the group, we joined hands together and cultivated a large piece of land and I can now produce 30 sacks of 400 kg of maize grain,” she disclosed.

Wilson said she is now in a position to pay not only her children’s school fees, but also take care of her basic needs.

Wilson said the WFP support has not only impacted farmers with farming skills but also provided them with access to the market.

 “My life has changed I can now produce bulky and I have to store some of my produce at my home,” she disclosed.

Tambura Richard, a representative of Luwam General Trading Co. Ltd, a local company contracted by WFP to buy maize grain from small holder farmers.

Richard said they have so far supplied the WFP with 445 metric tons of white maize since they entered into the contract with the U.N. agency in 2023.

He said that they buy 50 kilogram of maize grain from farmers at a cost of 30,000 SSP compared to 25,000 SSP in the market.

“Currently we are paying 30,000 SSP per 50 kg of maize and this is the maximum, but we started with 19,500 SSP when the dollar rate was low,” Richard said.

He said that farmers negotiate and arrive at favorable premium price with them.

“When we opened and started buying maize, we made sure that when maize comes we have to check the quality and purity of the maize, and we also check the last production,” Richard said.

He disclosed that the current fluctuation of prices is preventing farmers from bringing their goods to them amid increase in prices.

Peter Loruk, WFP Agribusiness Development Officer said they have so far reached 3,000 farmers in Western Equatoria  State, adding that they have improved on the farmers capacity to handle post-harvest losses, processing, marketing and finance.

“This program is actually supporting farmers to increase their production and productivity,” Loruk said.

He said that they bought 445 metric tons of maize grain from farmers in Yambio.

 “This is not only produce which they have aggregated, it is beyond the 445 metric tons, and in some other places we still have over 500 metric tons in storage waiting to go to the market,” Loruk said.

He said they have linked farmers to extension services provided by the government.

WFP has injected 365,000 U.S dollars to buy produce from smallholder farmers in Yambio.

Loruk said the produce bought from farmers will be used to facilitate its homegrown school feeding program as well as feed refugees.

 “We all know that we are receiving refugees as part of war in Sudan, so part of this food will go for saving lives in those areas where we are receiving them,” he disclosed.

Yona Robert Mart, Western Equatoria State Minister of Cooperatives and Rural Development praised the WFP for supporting smallholder farmers with trainings which have helped boost food productivity.

“This is a great achievement to our smallholder farmers in Western Equatoria, and this will boost food security in the State,” Robert said.

He urged farmers to increase food production to lessen dependence on imported food from neighboring countries.

 “We also want to take this opportunity to encourage our farmers in Western Equtaoria to redouble their efforts in increasing their productivity during the rainy season,” Robert said.

With support from the German government through KFW, WFP was able to procure 650 metric tons of white maize in Western Equatoria and Eastern Equatoria States. WFP has invested 2.1 million dollars in the past 6 years in supporting smallholder farmers across the country.

WFP supports 34 Cooperative in Western Equatoria State.