By Mary Poni
The U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) and the Resilience through Agriculture in South Sudan (RASS) have vowed to improve food security and community household recovery and resilience in thirteen counties in five States.
They include, Western Bahr El Ghazal, Unity, Upper Nile, Jonglei and Eastern Equatoria States respectively.
USAID Acting Mission Director in South Sudan, Mr. Darren Manning made their assurance to improve food security in the country in his remarks yesterday while handing over agricultural processing equipment and livelihood kits in Juba.
He said it is clear that many people in South Sudan are food insecure especially in rural counties in the country.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report released jointly by UN agencies and the government in Juba yesterday stated that 7.76 million people (which is 62.7 percent of the country population estimate) are people who will be facing severe acute food insecurity.
However, Mr. Manning said the resilience through agriculture in South Sudan and USAID is trying to improve resilience and food security in the targeted counties of the ten states across the country.
“I am very impressed to learn of the work that the local organizations are doing to improve the lives of many people in the country,” he said.
Mr. Manning noted that USAID look for partners to create bridge for communicating with the locals in the grassroots levels, saying communities can transition a way from humanitarian assistance to a longer-term sustainable development.
He encouraged other partners and the local organizations to take responsibility to see in to it that the equipment that have been provided are effectively used to increase the productivity and quick respond to the economy.
“This is just the beginning and I would like to encourage the partners to continue maintaining the strong collaboration with USAID,” he said.
Meanwhile the chief of party for RASS, Mr. Ital Makanda added that RASS will be implementing the activities in collaboration with the local organizations as it was clearly known.
He said that last year RASS was engaged in five major locations which includes Akobo, Budi, Kapoeta North, Wau and Jur-river and this year the same counties are privileged to receive equipment’s from the USAID in collaboration with RASS.
Ital stated that there are six local organizations including the Christian Action for Relief and Development which will be focusing in food security and livelihood in Wau.
Secondly, the Farm Stew South Sudan will be working in Jur River county in the area of food security and health awareness.
Thirdly the Rural Women for Development South Sudan is working in Budi County and Kapoeta North county of Eastern Equatoria State where they will be looking into the areas of food security and livelihood.
The fourth partner is the Saint Monica Agency for Peace and development, it will be working in the area of agriculture and health care awareness in Budi, Development and lastly the Grassroots Relief and Development Agency focusing in the areas of food security and livelihood in Akobo county of Jonglei state.
And fifth one is the Hope Agency for Relief and Development is also one of the specialized organizations in the area of food security, livelihood, health and nutrition and they will be working in the implementation of specific activities targeting fisheries development in Wau, Jur River County.
Ital disclosed that six partners organizations are going to be involved in promoting of installation of Agri dealing development for last meal distribution by piloting mobile cells agencies and community agencies models with input suppliers.
RASS is providing in-kind grant to grassroots organizations which will be acquiring equipment for processing agricultural produces like the grinding mills, the freshers and so on.
“We are working on facilitating youth group in accessing fishing nets and hooks which are very important in a way that the youth are going to engage actively in the fishery activities which can be supplied to the local markets,” he said.