New Centers Boost Western Bahr el Ghazal Farming
Two freshly built Farmer Centers and adjacent stores have been formally delivered to communities in Besilia and Kuajiena, marking a milestone for Western Bahr el Ghazal’s push to revive agriculture after years of conflict and climate shocks.
Financed by the World Bank’s Resilient Agricultural Livelihoods Project and executed by FAO, each site carries demonstration plots, water yards, maize mills and sorghum threshers inside a protective fence, turning the compounds into hands-on schools for climate-smart farming.
The five-year programme, launched in 2021 with 93 million dollars, operates across fourteen counties. Officials emphasise that better yields can stabilise food prices, reduce import bills, and lay foundations for broader economic recovery.
Government and FAO Align on Rural Transformation
“These assets show our determination to turn farming into an engine of growth,” asserted Lemi Wani, Director General for Community and Rural Development, while Governor Emmanuel Primo Okello urged residents to translate new skills into bumper harvests that feed not only Wau but neighbouring states.
FAO Representative Dr Maurice Nyombe underlined an exit strategy centred on strong local committees and business plans, yet promised to remain available for latrines, water harvesting upgrades and other refinements that will help the centres stand fully on their own.
Farmers Voice Optimism and Immediate Needs
Besilia farmer Edward Gabriel declared the village sleepless with joy, insisting the hub could supply fruit and grain to the wider region. His only plea: more tools to match the new infrastructure.
Jur River Executive Director Paquale Madut echoed the sentiment, requesting security guarantees so cultivation can expand. “Peace brings roads, markets and harvests,” he reminded officials amid applause.
Regional Ripple Effects and Future Outlook
Agricultural revitalisation in South Sudan resonates across Central Africa, complementing parallel initiatives in Congo-Brazzaville that also seek climate resilience and food sovereignty. Analysts note that coordinated progress could strengthen cross-border trade corridors along the Congo River basin.
For now, Western Bahr el Ghazal farmers prepare the coming planting season with renewed confidence, aware that bricks and mortar matter less than the skills, peace and persistence needed to turn seedlings into sustainable prosperity.