Graduate Turns to Farming to Tackle South Sudan’s Unemployment and Food Crisis

A South Sudanese graduate, Peter Jamba, is encouraging youth to take up agriculture as a means to combat unemployment and food shortages, sharing his own experience of farming to provide for his family and community.

(Yei) – A young South Sudanese graduate with a degree in Public Administration is encouraging fellow youths to invest in agriculture as a solution to unemployment and food scarcity in the country. Peter Jamba, who studied at Uganda Christian University, has turned to farming to provide for his family and address the country’s pressing food security issues.

In an interview with Access Radio, Jamba shared how his farming ventures have enabled him to meet his family’s basic needs. He explained, “Instead of looking for a job, I decided to create a job for myself. With my farm produce, I take others to the market to get money while others for household consumption. I call on the youth to be innovative and make use of the soil to earn money.”

Jamba started his farming projects in 2023, focusing on both food and cash crops, including maize, cassava, groundnuts, sunflower, and a variety of vegetable crops. He emphasised that farming not only provides food but can also be a profitable business if done with determination and resourcefulness.

However, Jamba highlighted several challenges that farmers in Yei River County face, including insecurity, poor quality seeds, and a lack of farming equipment. He stressed that addressing these issues would greatly improve food production. He called on both the government and agricultural organisations to step up their efforts in providing timely seeds, farm tools, and ensuring a stable security situation for farmers to thrive.

Yei River County, often referred to as the “food basket” of South Sudan, is known for its fertile soil and favourable weather conditions. It is in the green belt region of the country, making it an ideal area for agriculture. Despite its potential, however, the region still struggles with the challenges mentioned by Jamba.