Experts on Tuesday, May 5, emphasized that scaling up private-sector investment in South Sudan’s agriculture and livestock sectors is essential to achieving food self-sufficiency and reducing reliance on humanitarian aid.
Speaking at a four-day agriculture conference in Juba, Meshack Malo of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations revealed that the country has spent about $800 million annually on food imports over the past five years, with food accounting for roughly 63 per cent of total imports—placing South Sudan among Africa’s most food-dependent economies.
He stressed that heavy import spending undermines domestic production, job creation, and value addition, urging stronger engagement with both local and international investors to build resilience.
Felix Dzvurumi highlighted the need to improve land access and legal protections for farming to attract investment and ensure long-term agricultural stability.
Meanwhile, a recent UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report projects that 7.8 million people will face worsening food insecurity and acute hunger during the upcoming lean season, underscoring the urgency of structural reforms in the sector.