In South Sudan, over 1,000 farmer’s boosted production and unity

In the South Sudanese village of Folo Folo, just 20 kilometers from Torit (near the Ugandan border) a farmer group named "Welcome" is growing more than just crops. This close-knit group, which started with only two members, now counts 30 strong, with 19 women leading the way.

In May 2024, Welcome group joined the Resilient Agricultural Livelihoods Project (RALP), a project implemented by AVSI with funding from FAO. The group faced a common challenge for rural farmers in South Sudan with the lack of tools and resources to fully utilize their 3.5 hectares of land. Without proper equipment, clearing and cultivating the land would have taken an enormous amount of time, delaying their planting season. However, AVSI’s support provided the-needed tools to prepare their fields efficiently and helped them plant high-quality groundnut seeds in July.

Before receiving support from RALP, the farmers of Welcome group faced an uphill battle including preparing land for cultivation. The road to the nearest market in Tort is difficult to traverse, limiting their ability to sell surplus crops. Additionally, their limited access to proper farming tools and seeds hampered productivity. "If we didn’t have the tools, we would have wasted so much time. It would have been hard to even clear the land," explained Louis Luka Paul, Chairperson of the group.

The group worked in shifts twice a week, ensuring that someone was always tending to the crops. By October 2024, they celebrated their first harvest - an increase in production compared to previous years. Equipped with sacks from the RALP project, they were able to store their groundnuts efficiently, ensuring food security for the months ahead.

The benefits of this collective effort went beyond increased production.

Masimino Lotto, another member, shared how working as part of the group had a profound impact on their skills. "Before, we were all farming individually. There was no one to share knowledge with. Now, we learn from each other every day."

The group’s success also translated into improved nutrition for the community. Monica Ikiling, a mother in the group, spoke about how the harvest has benefited their children. "Before, it was hard to provide enough nutritious food. Now, our children’s health has improved because of what we’ve been able to grow this season."

With part of their harvest set aside for consumption and replanting, the Welcome group plans to sell the rest. Their future goal is ambitious but achievable: they hope to generate enough income to rent a tractor, allowing them to expand their operations and cultivate their land more efficiently in the coming seasons.

The RALP project supported different farmer groups like Welcome (20 in 2026), strengthening capacities and boosting food production across Torit County.