EmpowerKids-South Sudan Forges Strategic Alliance with Central Equatoria State Ministry of Agriculture to Strengthen Smallholder Farming

JUBA, South Sudan – On the framework of strengthening partnerships between EmpowerKids–South Sudan, a national organization, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Environment, EmpowerKids–South Sudan team headed by its Executive Director held an introductory meeting with the First Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Environment, Central Equatoria State.

The discussion centered on forging a partnership with EmpowerKids–South Sudan to rollout the Empower Farmers South Sudan Program in the State. The meeting carried both strategic importance and a sense of urgency.

Hakim described the meeting as fruitful, assuring the organization’s readiness to deliver modern agricultural methods in order to promote food production for smallholder farmers.

On his side, the Program Manager of EmpowerKids–South Sudan, Mr. Obede Lomoro, said that the Foundations for Farming model aims to answer the question of “how much land is required to feed a family of six members for a one-year period.” He explained that this conservation agriculture technique requires only 16m x 39m to feed such a family. Obede further added that it is a simple method that is easy to adopt and requires little capital and simple tools to produce food capable of sustaining a family for one year. He explained further that the aim is to see communities produce their own food using available inputs in order to break dependency on neighboring countries.

During the meeting, the First Director General, Mr. Gideon Samuel J. Tombe, expressed his happiness and thanked the delegation from EmpowerKids–South Sudan for their visit, confirming the Ministry’s commitment to partnership and to providing any type of support that can enhance efforts to improve the well-being of communities.

EmpowerKids-South Sudan (EKSS) is a nonprofit organization committed to improving the lives of children, youth, and families through education, sustainable agriculture, civic engagement, and community empowerment. Through its Empower Farmers South Sudan (EFSS) Program, EKSS promotes conservation agriculture, food security, and resilient livelihoods for vulnerable communities across South Sudan.

From left to right: Mr. Garang James, D/Program Manager (EFSS), Mr. Gideon Samuel J. Tombe, 1st Director General for Agriculture, Environment & Forestry, Central Equatoria State, Ms. Margret Lino, FfF Technical Lead, and Mr. Obede Lomoro, Program Manager, EFSS.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of EmpowerKids–South Sudan, Mr. Hakim Monykuer Awuok, appreciated the First Director General for the warm welcome and added that smallholder farmers are at the center of economic stability, food security, and community resilience. Yet these farmers often face persistent challenges such as limited access to modern farming techniques, climate-related risks, and poor market linkages. The proposed program aims to address these gaps directly.