IFDC spotlights seed access as vital for nutrition security in South Sudan

05 Aug 2024 --- The International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) is highlighting the importance of seeds as a component of global food security. Its ongoing Accelerating Agriculture and Agribusiness in South Sudan for Enhanced Economic Development (A3-Seed) initiative aims to support the nation in transitioning from reliance on humanitarian aid to becoming a competitor on the seed market. 

“Seed systems are an integral, but often overlooked, component of global food security. Conflict and economic fragility in areas such as East Africa can reduce the availability of and access to quality seeds. Community displacement in times of conflict further disturbs the seed system and decreases the use of quality seed,” the IFDC writes. 

The A3-Seed project is a five-year (2020–2025) project funded by the embassy of the Netherlands in Juba, South Sudan, aiming to reach farming households by facilitating the marketability of their commodities, thus allowing them to improve their incomes substantially. The project stands out by offering long-term rather than short-term solutions to nutrition insecurity in the country. 

“A3-Seed aims to provide market-oriented interventions to move from humanitarian support to a commercial, sustainable and adaptive agriculture sector.”

Seeds in conflict
Conflicts can affect the distribution of seeds by distorting the markets with longer value chains, creating the appearance of scarcity and hindering the delivery of essential seeds and food.

According to the IFDC, the likelihood of distributions can be decreased if regulatory frameworks are introduced to facilitate domestic trade and agriculture. This could allow local agribusinesses to gain independence and resilience, while improving the nutrition security of locals. 

The project aims to offer long-term rather than short-term solutions to nutrition insecurity in South Sudan.Regional initiatives and research institutes should also encourage local seed development and procurement. “Agro-dealers” should be supported to reach rural communities. 

Ensuring all of these aspects of equal access to seeds would make the competitive market in the East African country more resilient and could allow for growth in times of conflict and fragility. 

Conflicts are responsible for the “hunger crisis” in 59 countries, according to the international organization CARE, with the situation being most acute in Haiti, Gaza and Sudan. In an interview with Nutrition Insight, the organization asserted that women and girls often bear the most harrowing consequences of conflict-related malnutrition. 

Sustainable seeds system
The A3-Seed project works alongside South Sudan’s existing private-sector seed companies, individual commercial producers of seeds for the local market and out-growers for seed companies. 

With a budget of €8.5 million (US$9.3 million), the project aims to double the production of 100,000 farmers, improve the nutrition of 20,000, introduce sustainable agricultural practices to 42,000 hectares of land, produce 4,500 metric tons of seeds and train 5,300 farmers, 2,400 out-growers, 20 agro-dealer businesses and ten seed companies. 

The project implementation provides business owners with specially-adapted strategies of last-mile distribution (the final phase in supply chains) and innovative packaging. 

The project provides training to 100 agro-dealers, 200 women and 200 youths to be agro-business owners or managers. 

For established smallholder farmers, the project provides micro-demonstrations and extension services, encouraging “best agricultural practices,” such as integrated solid fertility management and climate smart agriculture. 

This project agenda sets out to inform a policy dialogue to improve food system resilience and to integrate local communities and institutions in designing and implementing the ongoing project. 

Additionally, A3SEED is strengthening the national seed association to promote domestic seed procurement by humanitarian and relief organizations working on the ground. 

At this year’s World Congress on Conservation Agriculture held in Cape Town, South Africa, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center highlighted the importance of seeding approaches to ensuring the diversification and sustainability of agricultural practices. 

By Milana Nikolova