South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, has launched a US$580,000 programme titled “Support towards Improved Seed Sector Performance and Competitiveness in South Sudan.”
This initiative aims to transform the seed system through a comprehensive national seed system assessment, capacity building for seed production, policy and legal reforms, and stakeholder engagement.
Mathew Gordon Udo, the Undersecretary for the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, stated at the launch event, which brought together key stakeholders from government, development agencies, seed companies, and youth groups, that the initiative is “timely and transformative.”
“This project aligns with our national goals to ensure food and nutrition security, create jobs, and empower our youth,” Udo remarked on Monday at the Pyramid Hotel during the launch.
The programme will be guided by AGRA’s Seed Systems Assessment Tool (SeedSAT) under the Centre of Excellence for Seed Systems in Africa (CESSA) and is funded through the generous support of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in South Sudan.
Christianne Nyakato Kivy, the Programme Officer for Development Cooperation at the Royal Norwegian Embassy, described the initiative as a significant step towards building resilience.
“This launch marks a pivotal moment in developing a resilient and competitive seed system in South Sudan,” Kivy said.
Jane Ininda, the Director for Seed Systems at AGRA’s Centre of Excellence for Seed Systems in Africa (CESSA), emphasised the importance of coordinated efforts.
“Seed systems are the backbone of agricultural transformation. Through SeedSAT, we are not just diagnosing gaps; we are co-creating solutions with national stakeholders to build resilient, inclusive systems that better serve farmers,” Ininda stated.
The launch programme served as a platform to introduce AGRA’s SeedSAT diagnostic tool, which will assess the current state of South Sudan’s seed systems by identifying gaps and designing tailored recommendations to inform a costed national seed investment plan.
