Pan Raak group Leading the Way in Agricultural Transformation in Cueibet County

The chairperson of the Pan Raak Cooperative Business Group, Josephine Achuoth Malual, exemplifies resilience and forward-thinking leadership.
Chairperson of Pan Raak Cooperative Business Group, Josephine Achuoth Malual [photo by Jenifer James ]

By Jenifer James

The chairperson of the Pan Raak Cooperative Business Group, Josephine Achuoth Malual, exemplifies resilience and forward-thinking leadership.

As she and her group set their sights on 2025, they are determined to build a sustainable future through strategic planning and self-reliance.

Reflecting on the past, Josephine shares the challenges they faced exclusively to The Dawn on Thursday, where she said Pan Raak cooperative business was formed five years ago with few members with the aim of addressing the challenges communities are facing in regards to food crisis in Cueibet county.

Comparing last year yield to this year, Josephine said, last year, the group struggled with delayed planting, which affected the yields.

 “But things are different now, the group has already secured and stored groundnut seeds in preparation for the upcoming planting season. “This time, we will start planting in April or May, much earlier than the previous year, when we began late in June and July,” Josephine said.

The women are celebrating after they manage to harvest their vegetables on Thursday photo by Jenifer James 

Josephine personal journey is equally inspiring. She recalls a time when she could not afford school fees for her children. Today, thanks to her farming income, she can independently support her children’s education. Some are pursuing higher studies at universities across the country, while others are in high school.

“I no longer rely on my husband or relatives for help. I’m confident I’ll manage next year as well,” she shares with pride.

Josephine is optimistic about scaling up production. “Our biggest challenge last year was the lack of seeds. Now, with seeds readily available and improved farming tools, our fields are ready,” she says. While the tools may not be sufficient for the scale they envision, they have been a game-changer for the group.

Before embracing cooperative farming, Josephine struggled as a subsistence farmer, facing high costs and unreliable seeds. “The seeds we could procure were expensive and often not viable,” she recalls. Now, with access to diverse and reliable seed varieties, she grows crops like onions, tomatoes, sorghum among others. “The income I earn from these crops is enough to sustain my family. I no longer face the challenges I once did.”

However, Josephine acknowledges that to expand their production and fully meet their potential, the group still needs more resources. “To reach the next level of success, we need more oxen and plows. The tools we currently have are helpful, but additional equipment will allow us to scale up and increase our output,” she explains.

Josephine credits her success to the strength of her community and her unwavering faith in God. Her determination and collaborative spirit have empowered her to overcome obstacles and lead her community toward self-reliance and prosperity.

Meanwhile Makur Machiek Dhieu said, despite these obstacles, the group remains ambitious. They plan to cultivate 30 feddans each of groundnuts and sorghum in the next planting season. “We are optimistic,” Makur said., “we can achieve higher yields at least three sacks of sorghum per feddan by the end of December.”

According to the recurrent report of Food Agricultural Organization stated that the counties of Cueibet and Rumbek North in Lakes State, South Sudan are expected to be in acute food insecurity.

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