University Graduate Shifts Focus and Hits Gold in Agriculture

By Simon Deng

When James Pagarau Majok enrolled at the University of Bahr el Ghazal in 2015 to pursue a degree in Education, lest did he know Wau, where the University is situated would be the foundation of his career in agriculture.

The 34 year old now owns about six feddans of agricultural land in Wau Nazareth, a part of Wau town.

Majok who hails from Yirol West in Lakes State now earns up to 40,000 South Sudanese pounds from proceeds of his farm, and more so, it has created a positive relationship between him and people who come to purchase the produces.

“It is very good. I am located near the market. The market people come in the morning and we harvest and we sell them. On a daily basis, on okra harvest, I can get 30,000 SSP-40,000 SSP,” Majok told The Dawn in an interview.

According to him, success hinged on peace the country is enjoying.

“We are looking for peace in South Sudan so that somebody who has a desire to cultivate wherever he likes will do so,” Majok said.

“We have to rely on farming. Agriculture gives you more income,” he said. “When we have peace, it will be reliable for the youth and for the farmers to do whatever is good to them. Our land is very fertile.”

Peace has been sustained in South Sudan since a deal was reached in 2018 which instituted a transitional government of national unity. Many South Sudanese, just like Majok are using the peaceful situation to develop themselves, rebuilding livelihoods and creating harmony among themselves.

China, is a country South Sudan can emulate in developing its agriculture potentials. The country has maximally enhanced agriculture production and used it to spur development.

It is now a big agricultural country, emphasized by the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization, endowed with rich agricultural resources. Since 1978, China has carried out step by step a policy of reform and opening up, bringing along a quickened pace in agricultural reform and development. It has succeeded in producing one fourth of the world’s grain and feeding one fifth of the world’s population with less than 10 percent of the world’s arable land, which is great achievement in pursuit of food and nutrition security not only in China but also in the world. It currently ranks first in the world in terms of the production of cereals, cotton, fruit, vegetables, meat, poultry, eggs and fishery products.

Like China, South Sudan with its vast fertile land could maximally develop agriculture production and effectively fend off food insecurity and become the bread basket of the East African region.

Majok is on that path. Recalling back, his initial plan was to be a science teacher specializing on biology and chemistry. But trying agriculture, he has hit the gold he cherishes.

“I want to shift my career because it is impressive to me. I want to do quick daily income,” He said. “I predict I will be a great farmer in South Sudan.”

Majok gained agricultural skills from the Women Advancement Organization, a national nongovernmental body that works to empower the livelihood of rural people in South Sudan.

“I was trained by Women Advancement Organization, with the skills and a startup of 100,000 SSP,” Majok said. “I want to use the skills to produce vegetables and fruits and some other crops so that I can benefit and the country also benefits,” he said.

During the dry season, Majok in his bid to keep production all year round, uses irrigation. He produces tomatoes, girgir, Sukuma wiki, okra, eggplants among other vegetables using the irrigation.

“I am using irrigation when there is no rain and when there is rain I stop irrigation,” he said.

Majok is confident that through agriculture, he has managed to confidently fend for his family.

Before this farming, I was not doing anything, but now I am able to feed my family from the small money that I make,” Majok said.

 “I am benefiting from my farm. I can get school fees for my kids. They are in a private school. I have 5 kids in Wau Light Nursery and Primary school. I can cover medication and many more needs of the family,” he said.

Majok believes through agriculture, he will be successful and will help the development of South Sudan.

“I want to maintain this kind of business. I want to maintain it so that I can have large scale farming in the future,” he said.

“I will be a great farmer in South Sudan. My expectation is that I need to be a good farmer in South Sudan recognized by South Sudanese for producing a lot of food for the people.”

He advised fellow South Sudanese to embrace agriculture to develop their own livelihood.

“Agriculture is the backbone of our nation. We do not need to leave agriculture and rely on somebody else. We need not to be dependent, we need to be independent,” Majok said.

 “It is not good receiving some of the food products from outside. You have ability to do it here and we can produce the same fruit brought from Uganda. I can even produce coffee here and the country can benefit from that,” he said. 

“When you rely on someone else you will not meet your expectations. You need to work with your hands, your ability, your energy and you need to sweat so that you get whatever you want. You need to be busy in the farm whether the season is dry or wet.”