Empowering Women Through Organic Vegetables and Fruits Production in Central & Eastern Equatoria

Republic of South Sudan

Amount: € 190,000.00

Overview

The project facilitated the empowerment of women through organic vegetable and fruit production in the Morobo county of Central Equatoria State and Magwi county of Eastern Equatoria state in South Sudan. Before the onset of the project, vegetables and fruits were imported from neighbouring countries, the projects intervention was thus vital in ensuring long-term, sustainable food security for the Central and Eastern Equatoria states of South Sudan. 600 women were trained in modern vegetable and fruit production techniques. Furthermore the project assisted the female farmers via the procurement and distribution of seeds, water tanks, fertilisers and farming equipment. Additionally, training on post-harvest handling and management was undertaken.

Key results

600 women from the Central and Eastern Equatoria states of South Sudan have benefitted from the vegetable and fruit farming initiative. Knowledge sharing and exchanges with experienced farmers were undertaken to develop the women’s capabilities and to ensure that best agronomic practices were adhered too. Training was conducted at 10 nursery plots during the projects conception, with subsequent quarterly refresher training to ensure knowledge retention. Training in post-harvest handling and management ensured that the beneficiaries were able to maximise the returns on their labour.

SPEDP, supported the establishment of a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) to help female farmers from the Central and Eastern Equatoria States of South Sudan to save together and provide small loans from these savings through a revolving fund. These savings earned interest for the beneficiaries and the funds could be used to fund future purchases of seeds, fertilisers and other farming equipment. The savings, insurance and loan facilities provided by the establishment of the VSLA allowed the female farmers to meet their short-term financial needs for income generating activities and emergencies without having to borrow from money-lenders at high interest rates.