South Sudan Can Become an Agribusiness Powerhouse

(OPINION/Emmanuel Taban George) – The silence of empty storage silos is the loudest warning for a nation’s food security. For over a decade, South Sudan has been defined by its potential, yet our dinner tables still depend on foreign markets and humanitarian aid.

Today, standing before the new food storage silos in Luri Industrial Area, Juba, the situation is clear. The country faces a shortfall of 20 million tonnes of grain. I have officially booked space in one of these state of the-art silos.

These silos are more than steel and concrete. They are a challenge to the government and a golden opportunity for our farmers. The land is fertile, and the storage is ready. The question is whether South Sudan has the political and collective will to fill these silos with maize and other grains needed to feed the nation. The answer is yes, we can.

To farmers across Yei River County and neighbouring states, the era of fearing post harvest loss is over. For years, much of our hard earned grain has gone to waste due to a lack of storage and market access.

Now, these silos in Juba provide a guaranteed market. Every stakeholder is urged to return to the land with renewed energy and make farming a top priority.

Increase your acreage. Move from subsistence farming to commercial production. Produce surplus. The demand for local maize, sorghum, and beans is higher than ever. Supply the capital. Juba is ready to consume what South Sudan grows. Let us replace imports with the bounty of our soil.

Agriculture must be a national priority. It cannot remain a side sector. To turn this 20 million tonne capacity into reality, the government must commit to three key pillars:

Rehabilitate Roads: The Yei-Juba Road is not just a path; it is an economic lifeline. Without repairing this and other feeder roads, transport costs will continue to burden farmers. Infrastructure connects fertile fields to full silos.

Empower Farmers: We must shift from a culture of aid to a culture of production. The government should provide tools, mechanised equipment, quality seeds, and security for farmers to work without fear.

Economic Sovereignty: We must prioritise local produce. By buying South Sudanese, we keep wealth within the country and empower our citizens rather than enriching foreign exporters.

The choice is clear: dependency or dignity. We can continue to rely on uncertain foreign aid, or we can empower our people to fill the void. These silos in Juba represent a path to dignity.

To farmers: sharpen your tools; the market is ready. To the government: clear the roads and support farmers in the fields.

Why do we need dollars to import food when we have fertile land, storage silos and the hunger for change? Let us work together to feed our nation and transform South Sudan into the agribusiness powerhouse it was always meant to be.

Season of Peace.

Emmanuel Taban George is a peasant from Yei River County

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