Access and availability of food are some of the factors that contribute to food insecurity in the Sudan. For the past 5 years IAS has introduced drought resistant crops in the areas of Bahr el Ghazal, which has resulted in increased access of food. Since the communities have limited knowledge in using there farms to gain maximum output, there is land wastage and food insecurity in the area. For the past two years IAS has developed a training curriculum for community based agricultural extension workers to help the local farmers to handle these challenges.

1) Training programs

Community Based Agriculture Extension Workers (CBAEW) training

IAS and SRRC’s agriculture sector have developed a training curriculum for the local agriculture officers. In May 2002 IAS/SRRC had developed the first Curriculum Module I and last year the second Curriculum Module I for training of extension workers was developed. The local farmers have been informed on better agricultural methods during these courses. In 2003, 28 trainees attended the training course. Another activity that took place was the establishment of the Training Centre in Aweil East county. The Centre gives support to the extension workers and the trainees while promoting increased food production.

Ox plough training

- 2 training sessions were conducted in the Bahr el Ghazal area.
- 40 local farmers were trained.
- 20 bulls were trained from the local farmers.
- 6 local training officers have been trained by IAS and FAO.
- 100 local farmers will be trained by the end of 2005.

Workshops and seminars

With the objective of increasing food production by changing social and cultural beliefs, IAS has developed packages to train community leaders in the sectors of ‘taboo’ food and farming methods.
- 8 training workshops where conducted in Western Equatoria.
- 3 training workshops where conducted in Bahr el Ghazal.
- Main beneficiaries were contract, contact and women group farmers.
- 560 contract, contact and women groups have been trained in the area.
- Most of the training sessions focused on maximising food production.

2) Cost recovery projects

As a result of the civil war, most of the parts in Southern Sudan have been described as ‘food aid dependant areas’ and major parts of Bahr el Ghazal and Upper Nile regions have been on the docks of starvation. This has resulted in a ‘food aid dependency syndrome’ in most of the communities in Southern Sudan. The syndrome has more or less robbed the nation of its cultural farming practices that have been there for centuries. To prevent this dependency syndrome, IAS introduced a new concept of contract farmers in the year 2000. The contracted farmers were given aid to help them increase their food production and in return, they paid back the ‘loan’ into the project after the harvested surplus.

In the Equatoria region, it has been successful with records of up to 80% recovery of the tools and seeds given to the local farmers. This year IAS introduced the program in Bahr el Ghazal by using a rice project. The results were astonishing with up to 100% recovery of the seeds given on loan to the contract farmers.

3) Seed multiplication projects

IAS has supported local farmers to establish seed multiplication farms since 2002. We began to encourage communities to plant fruit trees in their home/schools and as a result over 1000 fruit trees have been planted this year. The sesame multiplication project in Yei has encouraged the local community to put aside seeds for the next season.

- 2 feddans were used for seed multiplication in Western Equatoria.
- 200 fruit trees were multiplied in Bahr el Ghazal.
- 500 fruit trees were multiplied in Yei county, Western Equatoria.

4) Extension Planning Areas (EPAS)

Since the establishment of the CBAEW, IAS and the local community has experianced the need of creating areas where the extension workers can be deployed to after the completion of their training period. This resulted in the construction of EPAS in January 2003. These areas are small regions in payams that ease the management of the extension program. EPAS are currently only available in the Bahr el Ghazal region.

5) Emergency intervention

Returnees interventions

With the hope of peace in the Sudan, small number of households that once had moved to Northern Sudan began to move back to their home areas. The local community in Bahr el Ghazal expressed the need of relief interventions to IAS and other INGOs. In May 2003, IAS distributed tools and seeds to the returnees.

Vegetable growing for women group

IAS has supported women groups in Bahr el Ghazal by helping them to plant vegetables during the dry seasons. This year 45 women were trained in vegetable production. A vegetable garden was established near Akuem River in Bahr el Ghazal region.

Dyke construction on rice fields

The heavy rains along the riverbanks in Bahr el Ghazal destroy many rice crops for local farmers. IAS has assisted 20 farmers as they have digged 2700 metres of dykes along the riverbanks for rice crops.