18,000 Fruit Trees and Training for Akon Community Farmers in Warrap

(AKON, GOGRIAL WEST COUNTY) – Akon Basic and Secondary School in Gogrial West County is set to benefit from a donation of 200 fruit trees of various species, following a community mobilisation visit by Natural Planters for Generations (NPG) South Sudan on Thursday, 31 July 2025.

The visit brought together school administrators, local chiefs, elders and community members at Abyei Cök in Akon town, where the school committee appealed for support in transforming the school compound with tree planting. The administration cited the school’s expansive land and the urgent need for more shaded areas through decorative and fruit bearing trees.

During the meeting, NPG Executive Director Augustino Wol presented the organisation’s core mission, which focuses on sustainable agriculture, environmental conservation and improving livelihoods.

The school and community leaders expressed strong interest and pledged to support the project by mobilising local participation in upcoming workshops on tree planting and environmental protection.

NPG South Sudan is a nationally registered organisation under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, working across Warrap State to promote green initiatives.

Also present at the event was Mr Agot from the State Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, who gave a practical demonstration on how to cultivate key food and cash crops such as cassava, yams and vegetables. He encouraged the community to shift from traditional subsistence farming practices, which often rely on single crops and livestock, to more diversified and modern methods of agriculture that offer better yields and income.

He explained that communities depending solely on livestock are vulnerable to devastating losses due to common animal diseases such as Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), locally called jɔŋ nhiaäl, goat pox (Manyuin), anthrax, tetanus, enterotoxemia, Johne’s disease and caseous lymphadenitis.

While not all these conditions are fatal, they can drastically reduce productivity and income. Planting a range of crops and fruit trees, he said, can help cushion such losses by offering alternative income sources.

Mr Philip Aruop Majok, Managing Coordinator of NPG South Sudan, encouraged communities across Warrap State to embrace the initiative as a lifelong project that contributes to both environmental conservation and food security. He highlighted the organisation’s existing demonstrative farms in Pajok, Awan-Ayien, and Panliet, with more sites in development.

A baseline survey conducted in all counties within Warrap State has already paved the way for the distribution of 18,000 fruit tree seedlings, comprising 11 different varieties or scientific families. These seedlings have been delivered to the Warrap State Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in preparation for the official launch of the project.

The launch is expected to be officiated by the Governor of Warrap State, H.E. Ambassador Bol Wek Agoth, upon his return from an official visit to Tonj.