South Sudan Eyes Tech-Driven Farming
Walking through packed halls of Nairobi’s Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Envoy Adut Kiir paused at drone-guided tractors and solar pumps. She told gathered reporters that such tools “could redefine our production curves,” stressing the urgency of adopting smart irrigation and mechanisation.
Regional Cooperation Keys to Resilience
Adut underlined that no nation tackles climate shocks alone. She urged partnerships with Kenyan, Ethiopian and Chinese innovators, noting that shared expertise lowers costs and speeds deployment. “Cross-border collaboration is the fastest path to resilient harvests,” she said, as investors nodded in agreement.
Flood Challenges Demand Innovation
Annual floods swallow fields across Jonglei and Unity states, hampering mobility and yields. Adut believes targeted machinery—amphibious harvesters, elevated grain dryers—can keep supply chains moving during heavy rains, protecting both livelihoods and market prices.
Presidential Agenda on Self-Sufficiency
She reminded delegates that President Salva Kiir has placed agriculture at the heart of national planning. Budget lines now prioritise extension services, seed banks and rural infrastructure, aiming to shift imports toward domestic output and spur wider economic diversification.
Looking Ahead to a Home-Grown Expo
Adut hopes the Expo’s cooperative model soon lands in Juba, allowing South Sudanese farmers to showcase cassava hybrids and millet milling tech on home soil. “Bringing the world to the Nile corridor would accelerate knowledge exchange,” she concluded, before departing for bilateral meetings.