South Sudan National Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security - MAFS

𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐮𝐝𝐚𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐬 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐚 𝐁𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

Today, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security started a three-day national Agriculture Conference with the theme "Investing in Agri-food Systems for a Better Life in South Sudan.”

Vice President James Wani Igga, who also chairs the Economic Cluster, opened the conference as Guest of Honour. He called for greater government support for agriculture through real financial investment and policy changes.

“We must move beyond talking about agriculture as the backbone of our economy and begin to actualise financial investment in the sector. Government must put resources where our priorities are and ensure that policies are effectively implemented to unlock agriculture’s full potential,” said the Vice President.

Emmanuel Adil Anthony, Governor of Central Equatoria State, also spoke at the opening. He stressed how important agriculture is for both state and national development.

Lily Albino Akol, Acting Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, highlighted the government’s commitment to supporting changes in agriculture.

“The government is fully committed to supporting agriculture, and we will prioritise policy regulations that ease access to land for investors and farmers, establish agro-mechanical centres to promote mechanisation, and ensure that agricultural inputs remain tax-free so production becomes affordable and competitive,” she said.

The Minister of Livestock and Fisheries assured investors and stakeholders that South Sudan remains open to agricultural investment, despite some security concerns.

“The security situation in South Sudan is not as bad as it is often reported. There are many peaceful and productive areas, such as Lakes State, where agricultural production continues to increase. Those interested in investing can begin with such stable regions as the country continues to work toward full peace across all areas,” he noted.

The conference has gathered many development partners and stakeholders, such as the Food and Agriculture Organisation, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Office for Project Services, UN Women, the Strømme Foundation, International Fund for Agricultural Development, Cooperative Bank, GIAD, and others.

Agricultural companies from across the country are taking part, showcasing their products, new ideas, and services at exhibition stands at the conference. This highlights the growing potential of South Sudan’s agribusiness sector. Over the next three days, participants will engage in discussions to unlock investment opportunities, strengthen agri-food systems, and build a more resilient and prosperous South Sudan.

𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐮𝐝𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐈𝐏𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭: 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐭-𝐀𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞

April 28, 2026 – Today, the Government of South Sudan urgently released the IPC Projection Update for April to July 2026, warning that 7.9 million people are projected to face severe food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or higher), with 73,000 at risk of IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe).

In these situations, families face starvation, extreme food shortages, and loss of their livelihoods. Additionally, millions of children under five and pregnant and breastfeeding women urgently need treatment for acute malnutrition.

“The crisis mainly affects places where conflict, displacement, and disrupted livelihoods are common. When farmers cannot access land, markets are closed, and aid is blocked, hunger worsens. Peace, security, and rebuilding agriculture must go hand in hand.”
Hon. Lily Albino Akol, Acting Minister, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security

Immediate, coordinated, and adequately funded action from all partners is urgently needed to prevent famine in the most affected counties, such as Akobo, Fangak, Nasir, Ulang, Nyirol, and Uror. We call on all partners to increase their support and funding now to save lives, protect livelihoods, and help communities recover. Every moment of delay puts more lives at risk.

Food security underpins peace and stability. We must act now: addressing this crisis demands urgent aid and sustained investment in agriculture, jobs, and peacebuilding.

𝐆𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐋𝐀𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐇 𝐒𝐔𝐃𝐀𝐍 𝐀𝐆𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 2026 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐌𝐀𝐅𝐒 𝐖𝐄𝐁𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐑 𝐈𝐍𝐕𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌 𝐅𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐒𝐘𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐒

JUBA, South Sudan—The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), in collaboration with the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries (MLF), with support from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and other development partners, today officially launched the South Sudan Agriculture Conference 2026 alongside the new MAFS website. The event took place on Tuesday, 07 April 2026, from 08:00 to 11:00 AM at the Pyramid Continental Hotel in Juba.

The Conference, scheduled for 04–08 May 2026, will be held under the theme:
“Investing in Agri-food Systems for a Better Life in South Sudan.” It is a flagship national initiative aimed at mobilizing public- and private-sector investment, strengthening partnerships, and accelerating the transformation of South Sudan’s agriculture sector.
South Sudan has significant agricultural potential. For example, more than 80% of its land is arable, it has abundant water resources, and it has diverse agro-ecological zones. Despite these advantages, the sector continues to face challenges, including climate shocks, limited infrastructure, low productivity, and weak market systems. The Conference seeks to address these constraints by promoting investment, innovation, and policy alignment across key value chains, including crops, livestock, fisheries, irrigation, and agribusiness.

Speaking at the launch, Hon. Lily Albino Akol, Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, emphasised the importance of translating agricultural potential into tangible outcomes:

“This conference comes at a critical time when South Sudan is seeking practical solutions to strengthen food security and build resilience. We must scale up investment, improve access to technology, and strengthen extension services so that increased production leads to better livelihoods and nutrition outcomes for our people.”

The launch also marked the unveiling of the new MAFS website, a strategic digital platform designed to enhance information sharing, transparency, and stakeholder engagement. The website will host key resources, including conference information, investment opportunities, policy documents, and sector updates, serving as a central hub for coordination between government, investors, development partners, and the public.

Hon. Atong Kuol Manyang, Minister for Trade and Industry, underscored the close collaboration between her ministry and the agriculture sector, noting that the conference is a key step toward unlocking investment aligned with the government’s priorities. She stated that the President of the Republic of South Sudan, His Excellency General Salva Kiir Mayardit, has placed agriculture at the center of the country’s development agenda due to its transformative economic potential.

“His Excellency General Salva Kiir Mayardit has identified agriculture as a priority sector because of its capacity to drive South Sudan’s economic development. This conference is therefore a practical step toward implementing that vision by promoting investment in agriculture as a catalyst for national growth.”

The World Bank Country Manager for South Sudan, Charles Undeland, underscored the urgency of addressing food insecurity and the importance of private sector engagement:

“Over 10 million people in South Sudan are food insecure, despite the country's abundant arable land and water resources. Therefore, this conference is a crucial step towards addressing this issue. The government must seek stronger support from the private sector, local farmers, and stakeholders, as relying solely on donor funding will not significantly impact the situation—it is merely a small contribution.”

Hon. Lasuba Ludoru Wongo, Minister of Mining, welcomed the launch of the Agriculture Conference as both timely and strategic, underscoring its importance in reshaping the country’s economic trajectory.

“Investing in agriculture will support South Sudan’s transition away from heavy reliance on petroleum, which accounts for over 90 percent of national income, while expanding the revenue base and addressing the persistent challenge of food insecurity.”

The launch event sets the stage for the main conference, briefing stakeholders, development partners, and the media on the conference objectives, thematic areas, and expected outcomes. It also plays a critical role in mobilizing private-sector actors and potential investors to participate in the conference and explore opportunities in South Sudan’s agriculture sector.

Over the course of the conference, stakeholders will engage in high-level policy dialogue, technical discussions, and investment forums, with a strong emphasis on youth and women empowerment, climate-smart agriculture, and inclusive agricultural growth. The Conference is expected to deliver key outcomes, including a national communiqué, investment frameworks, and actionable strategies to guide the transformation of South Sudan’s agricultural sector.

𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗔𝗚𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗚𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗖𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗢 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗦𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗬

On Saturday, 17 January 2026, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), Hon. Hussein Abdelbagi Ayii Agany Akol, held a joint meeting with officials from the Ministry of Finance and Planning, led by Hon. Dr Bak Barnaba Chol, to discuss areas of cooperation between the two ministries.

The meeting focused on the need to prioritise investment in the agricultural sector as a key pillar for diversifying South Sudan’s economy and strengthening national food security. Both ministers and their technical teams reviewed the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security’s planned activities and jointly identified priority interventions critical for implementation as the farming season approaches.

Discussions emphasised the importance of translating H.E. the President’s directives on prioritising agriculture into concrete actions, with particular attention to ensuring that essential agricultural services and programs are supported in a timely manner.

The engagement reaffirmed strong collaboration between the two ministries and a shared commitment to advancing agriculture as a driver of food security, livelihoods, and economic resilience for the people of South Sudan.

𝐌𝐀𝐅𝐒 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐥𝐲 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

𝐉𝐮𝐛𝐚, 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 – The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) officially welcomed two newly appointed Undersecretaries, following presidential decrees issued by H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Friday, November 21, 2025. The new appointees are Hon. Dr Michael Roberto Kenyi, Undersecretary for Food Security, and Hon. Anthony Majak, Undersecretary for Cooperative Development. They assume office from their predecessors, Hon. John Ogotho Kanisio and Hon. Mathew Udo, respectively.

The reception ceremony, held at the MAFS Complex, was presided over by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Hussein Abdelbagi Ayi Agany Akol, and attended by senior ministry officials, including Director Generals, the Program Director of the Single Project Coordination Unit, Dr Erneo Blasio, as well as technical advisor Evans Kenyi. Development partners UNOPS, UNDP, and IFAD were also present to witness the transition.

In his address, the Minister urged the two Undersecretaries to prioritise urgent sectoral tasks critical to strengthening food security and advancing economic development through the modernisation of rural cooperatives. He reaffirmed his commitment to support them in fulfilling their mandates and improving the working environment for all MAFS staff. He also extended gratitude to the outgoing undersecretaries, thanking Hon. John Kanisio for his dedicated ten years of service as MAFS Undersecretary and assuring him of continued government confidence, and encouraging Hon. Mathew Udo as he transitions into his new role as MAFS Technical Advisor.

Delivering his inaugural remarks, Hon. Dr. Michael Roberto Kenyi expressed gratitude to the President for the appointment and pledged to champion “institutional reform, policy coherence, and practical interventions that deliver real results to farmers.” He emphasised an open-door leadership approach to ensure unity of purpose within the ministry.

Similarly, Hon. Anthony Majak thanked the Minister for the warm reception and echoed his colleague’s commitment to collaboration, stating that his office will remain open to all staff and stakeholders working toward the ministry’s shared goals.

MAFS is recruiting an NGO to implement the economic and livelihoods opportunities component of the SNSOP project. Click the link below for details.

mafs.gov.ss

𝐌𝐀𝐅𝐒 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐔𝐍 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞

𝐉𝐮𝐛𝐚, 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐮𝐝𝐚𝐧, 𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟓, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 – The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) held a high-level meeting with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) to explore strengthened collaboration aimed at advancing women’s economic empowerment through agriculture in South Sudan.
The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Hussein Abdelbagi Akol Agany Ayii, and the Deputy Minister, Hon. Lily Albino Akol, with participation from the UN Women Country Representative, Ms Delphine Serumaga. Discussions centred on developing joint strategies to support women across the agricultural value chain, from production and storage to processing, marketing, and access to finance.

Agriculture remains the backbone of South Sudan’s economy, employing over 80 percent of the population, most of whom are women who serve as the primary source of agricultural labor across the country. Despite their central role in food production, processing, and small-scale marketing, women continue to face significant structural barriers, including limited access to land, tools, finance, improved technologies, extension services, and market opportunities. These constraints limit their productivity and weaken their ability to transition from subsistence farming to meaningful economic participation within agricultural value chains.

The meeting aimed to create shared strategies that put women at the heart of changes in agriculture, especially by helping them in every part of the agricultural value chain: from growing crops and storing them to processing, selling, and getting financial services to add value.
Hon. Hussein reflected on his experience engaging with women-led cooperatives across the country, noting the critical roles women already play:

“I have always advocated for women and looked for ways to support them, even before joining the Ministry. Through our livelihood’s projects, I discovered that women make up most agricultural workers. In Rumbek, I met over 20 cooperatives led largely by women. In Bor, women were at the forefront of fisheries cooperatives. At the Aweil Rice Scheme, women farmers are driving progress more strongly than men. This is the same trend I saw in Warrap.
Through our partnership with the World Bank, we have provided support to farmers most of whom are women, but it is not enough. There are still many gaps. We need UN Women to come in and strengthen these efforts and fil any gaps. We are organizing women into cooperatives as an entry point for support. When tractors were brought in, I insisted they be given first to cooperatives, and most of those cooperatives turned out to be women-led. Yet many more women are seeking support in different areas, and UN Women’s involvement is critical in helping us meet these needs.”

UN Women’s Country Representative affirmed the importance of stronger collaboration with MAFS:

“I wanted to personally introduce myself so we can build a relationship that enables us to support your Ministry. It is vital that UN Women works closely with the Ministry of Agriculture to advance gender inclusivity. We want to better understand your programmes and identify where our support can add the most value.”

Deputy Minister Hon. Lily Albino Akol highlighted the demographic and structural realities shaping women’s roles in agriculture:

“In South Sudan, most people live in rural areas where agriculture takes place, and most agricultural work is done by women. With men and youth increasingly moving to towns or other regions, women now head many households and run both farming and small economic activities.
At the Ministry, we ensure our programmes are gender-sensitive by deliberately targeting women’s groups and cooperatives. Cooperatives are critical because they strengthen women by giving them skills, tools, and collective bargaining power. Women often cannot access loans due to lack of collateral, since land and property are traditionally owned by men. These are the gaps we try to address, and this is exactly where UN Women can make a meaningful difference. When women are economically empowered, households and communities become stronger, especially in rural areas.”

Both institutions reaffirmed their commitment to advancing women’s economic empowerment through agriculture. To achieve this, MAFS and UN Women will explore concrete areas of joint action, including strengthening women-led cooperatives through training, governance support, and access to tools and technologies, improving women’s access to finance by designing tailored financial products and facilitating linkages with microfinance institutions and VSLAs, supporting value addition and processing to enable women to move beyond primary production into more profitable sectors of the value chain, enhancing gender-responsive extension services and increasing the number of female extension workers, promoting women’s access to land and productive assets through advocacy, policy dialogue, and community-level sensitization, improving market access by connecting women producers to structured markets, trade fairs, and agribusiness opportunities, and joint programme development and resource mobilization to scale successful models and reach more women across the country.

MAFS and UN Women expressed a shared vision: when women farmers thrive, families thrive, and strong families build resilient communities. Through strengthened partnership, both institutions aim to elevate women from being the backbone of agricultural labour to becoming key drivers of South Sudan’s agricultural growth and economic transformation.

𝐆𝐎𝐒𝐒 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐰𝐞𝐢𝐥, 𝐍𝐁𝐆𝐒

Aweil, Northern Bahr El Ghazal State – A high-level delegation from the Government of South Sudan’s Economic Cluster successfully concluded a field mission to Aweil on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, to assess progress in key agricultural production and economic recovery initiatives.

Led by Hon. Abdelbagi Akol Agany Ayi, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, the delegation included senior government officials from the Ministries of Livestock and Fisheries; Environment and Forestry; Trade and Industry; Health; Wildlife Conservation and Tourism; and the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security. Also joining the mission were representatives from the Ministry of Finance and Planning, the National Legislative Assembly, the African Development Bank (AfDB), FAO, and diplomatic missions from Germany and France.

During the visit, the delegation inspected major developments at the Aweil Rice Scheme (ARS), a flagship government program supporting national food production and economic resilience. Key infrastructure under review included the construction of a 26.7 km feeder road, water yard facilities, cultivation works in Basin 4, and the development of a research and seed storage facility under the AfDB-funded BREFONS project. The officials also toured newly established agro-mechanical service centres designed to bring tractors, harvesters, and maintenance services closer to farmers, enabling expanded cultivation, improved productivity, and reduced post-harvest losses.

In addition, the team monitored the rollout of the Climate Resilient Agriculture and Food Transformation (CRAFT) project, which will boost rice, sorghum, sesame, and fisheries value chains while promoting climate-smart technologies and research collaboration with local institutions, including the University of Juba.

Hon. Abdelbagi Akol Ayi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to transforming agriculture into the backbone of the economy.

“Agriculture remains the engine of our economic recovery. Through mechanisation, innovation, and increased production, we are working to ensure every household becomes food secure and South Sudan reduces reliance on imported food.”

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security extends appreciation to all partners and stakeholders who supported this mission and continues to call on citizens to embrace agriculture as a key pathway to prosperity and national self-reliance.

South Sudan Reaffirms Commitment to Regional Cooperative Development at AMCCO 2025

The 14th African Union Africa Ministerial Cooperative Conference (AMCCO) 2025 opened in Nairobi, Kenya on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, bringing together Ministers and high-level delegates from across the continent to advance Africa’s cooperative development agenda.

Speaking during the opening session on Day One, the Hon. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Lily Albino Akol, delivered South Sudan’s national statement, outlining the country’s cooperative development priorities and aspirations.

In her opening remarks, Hon. Albino Akol reaffirmed South Sudan’s strong commitment to working collaboratively with regional and international partners to strengthen cooperatives as engines of inclusive growth, resilience, and socio-economic transformation.

At the Final Day of the event on Thursday October 9, 2025, Hon. Lily Albino Akol, delivered South Sudan’s national statement, highlighting the country’s cooperative development priorities.

In her remarks, Hon. Albino Akol reiterated South Sudan’s commitment to working closely with regional and international partners to strengthen cooperatives as a key pillar of socio-economic transformation and inclusive development.

During the conference, the Hon. Deputy Minister signed the “Nairobi Declaration for Regional Cooperative Development” on behalf of the Republic of South Sudan and joined fellow Ministers in launching the “Africa

Cooperative Model Law”, a landmark framework aimed at enhancing cooperative governance and collaboration across the continent.

She also accepted a symbolic elephant gift, representing power, unity, and endurance—values that reflect the strength and resilience of South Sudan’s cooperative movement.