From the Pulpit to the Farm, Retired Archbishop Advances Food Security

By Awan Achiek

When Archbishop Dr. Daniel Deng Bul entered retirement, he had one thing in mind, to continue serving God’s flock through the most effective source of livelihood in South Sudan, agriculture.

Bul retired as the Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of Sudan and South Sudan in 2018 and immediately settled into farming as a means of sustaining his family and shore up food security while putting up a campaign for agriculture in the country.

“So that is part of my campaign, that we need to work together, we need to produce our own food. How small the place you want to cultivate, provided that you have at least something you produce for yourself,” he told The Dawn in an interview.

Bul served as Archbishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church of Sudan and South Sudan for ten years and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize by Canterbury in 2021 for his role in promoting peaceful co-existence among South Sudanese.

On his 20 feddan farmland, South of Nesitu, about half a kilometer from Sherikat, the 75 year old grows mainly sorghum, millet and okra and among crops.

“Well, the benefit, first of all, is to secure food in my house. So whatever number of people in my house, I will not be afraid of what they eat,” Bul said.

South Sudan, a very fertile country for agriculture is wrenched with food insecurity after years of conflict which let people stay away from their farms.

A transitional government of national unity has stopped the conflict and is providing a favorable situation for many people like Bul to take time and tend to their farms.

In 2023 alone, Bul produced 300 bags of sorghum and millet, selling some off and putting aside some for his family’s consumption. He employs up to 100 laborers on his farm.

Bul’s agricultural activities date back to 1995 when he was appointed the Bishop of the diocese of Renk.

“I became the bishop of Renk in 1995, and I stayed in Renk for 15 years, and those 15 years I’ve been cultivating for the whole diocese,” he said.

According to him, proceeds from farming helped setting up six primary schools in the Diocese of Renk.

“So when I retired, I picked up farming since I still have the energy to cultivate for my life, for my people,” Bul said.

“I should eat what I have to do with my own hand. Because what you eat with your own hand is always blessed.”

Generally, agriculture is the backbone of any developing country. China in the Far East is an example of such a country which is using agriculture to spur development and modernization. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in China, rural incomes have continued to rise rapidly, significantly improving the rural living standards.

According to Bul, South Sudanese must embrace hard work to carter for their food needs as opposed to waiting for handouts.

He said farming is profitable and people can make money through farming, and appealed to the government to improve security to enable people to farm.

Stephen Tutu Kuku, a manager at Archbishop Bul’s farm hailed the benefits which come with farming.

“Farming is one the best work and if you want to make money, join farming, and within eight months, you can get good yield,” Kuku told The Dawn.

According to him, the farm will most likely produce 400 bags of cereal this year.