Women Urged to Champion Farming in Battle Against Hunger

By Jenifer James

The Central Equatoria State Minister of Gender, Child, and Social Welfare, Zendia Eluzai,  has called on women to take a leading role in agricultural activities as a means of combating hunger and building family resilience amid ongoing climate challenges.

Speaking at the launch of a project in Rajaf payam, Tokiman East, on Monday, Minister Eluzai emphasised the crucial role women play in sustaining families during difficult times.

“Women in the state are currently holding up the family,” she stated. “This soil is not meant for us to bear dead bodies, but for farming.”

Eluzai highlighted that agriculture is a key solution to food insecurity in the state. “If we own these projects, we will fight starvation in the state,” she added.

Despite the challenges posed by climate change, particularly frequent flooding, the minister encouraged communities not to abandon farming.

“Regardless of the challenges the state is facing, especially flooding, we need to continue with farming,” she urged. “This climate change is not a big issue—there are vegetables that actually need water, so we must understand what to plant.”

Meanwhile, Mahlodi Muofhe, South Africa’s Ambassador to South Sudan, emphasised the importance of a new agricultural initiative aimed at empowering youth and women while promoting peace and sustainable development.

Muofhe highlighted the humanitarian crisis facing South Sudan and framed the initiative as a practical embodiment of African unity and cooperation.

“Given the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, this project is an important demonstration of solidarity from our people—the people of the South with the people of South Sudan,” he said. “It is a demonstration of Ubuntu—that I am because you are. Your suffering is my suffering.”

The project, supported by the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Fund, focuses on advancing sustainable agriculture in South Sudan, with a specific emphasis on empowering youth and women.

“Through this project, we want to make our own small contribution towards the Africa We Want,” the Ambassador stated, referring to the African Union’s development vision. “In particular, we aspire to an Africa whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential of African people—especially its women and youth—and caring for children.”

Muofhe stressed the project’s role in promoting peace, urging young people to turn away from violence and embrace agriculture as a tool for nation-building.

“We want the youth to choose seeds over bullets. Our youth must choose to pick up hoes, spades, and till the land to feed their communities rather than picking up guns,” he said.

He outlined expectations for the project’s implementation, which must align with the IBSA Fund’s approval and guidelines.

“The Steering Committee must ensure that the implementing agents are intentional about empowering women and youth to drive the sustainable agriculture project,” he emphasised. “This must include the employment of South Sudanese companies led by youth and women.”

He called for the full engagement of the South Sudanese government and communities to ensure the project’s sustainability and success, as well as clear visibility of IBSA countries as sponsors.

“In line with the IBSA Board approval, we would like to see the utilisation of IBSA countries’ capacities in procurement and human resources,” Ambassador Muofhe added, noting the 24-month timeframe for the project’s completion.

With financing from the India, Brazil, and South Africa Facility for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation (IBSA) Fund, through South-South Cooperation, the project aims to turn agriculture into a driver of economic growth, resilience, and inclusivity.

Benefiting over 1,200 individuals, at least 60% of whom are female, the project offers high-quality seeds, modern farming equipment, technical assistance, and access to markets, empowering smallholder farmers, mainly from Luri and Rejaf, to boost food production, family income, and climate resilience.