Farmers advised to practice crop rotation for climate adaptation

The Ministry of Environment has urged farmers to adopt practices tailored to local rainfall patterns to maximize yields and ensure food security.

South Sudan has significant potential for cereal grain production, primarily due to the presence of alluvial soil and arable land along the flood plains.

Joseph Africano Bartel, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, suggested that farmers should cultivate fast-maturing crops during the rainy season.

“Some parts of South Sudan will experience flooding and drought. Instead of planting crops that take a long time to mature, we should consider crops or seeds that mature within 90 or 45 days,” Africano stated in an interview with The Radio Community.

Africano reassured local communities that the government, in collaboration with its partners, is committed to providing seeds to farmers during the rainy season.

However, he expressed concern about the possibility of heavy rains and advised communities to relocate to higher ground to mitigate the impact of flooding.

“There is a risk of flooding in some areas, especially those prone to floods. People should move to higher ground or protect their properties by constructing dikes and water channels to prevent flooding,” he advised.

The environmentalist further emphasized the need to clear streams and prevent plastic bottles from polluting the Nile. “We ask people to start clearing the streams to allow rainwater to flow into the river and ensure that most of these plastic bottles do not end up in the Nile,” he added.

Flooding and heavy rain continue to impact people across the country, including in Jonglei, Lakes, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Unity, Upper Nile, Warrap, and Western Equatoria states.

According to the South Sudan 2022 Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission, an estimated 130,000 hectares of cultivated land were damaged by floods, resulting in an estimated loss of 65,000 tons of cereals.