15/05/2026
PROSPERITY PILOT PROJECT (PPP), DRAFT COMING SOON
By Kono Dumo Ukumo - May 15th 2026
From the look of things, the economic hardship in South Sudan seems to be only drifting from worse to worst, continuously. It is ironic that this is happening when arable land lays idle and food insecurity is palpable and protracted. Food is often in short supply and high demand, ferried in from Uganda and Kenya in hundreds of thousands of tones every day.
The Luo areas of Jur River County (JRC) of Western Bhar El Ghazal State, which like many crop farming communities in Africa, never used to experience any serious famine. Shortage and lack of food in many households in JRC, however, have now become cyclical, annually. Meaning every year its population experiences what looks like famine in large parts of it, approximately over 60% of its areas. Reason?
Reasons are varied, ranging from insecurity caused by intercommunal violence by the neighboring cattle rearing communities of Warap state, to SSPDF and SPLA-IO insurgency where both side of the conflict often tend to vend their frustration on the citizens instead of seeking out each other, away from population centres. In addition, a big chunk of the population of South Sudan seems to have lost touch which land and tended to value only quick hand outs such as from Humanitarian relief organizations and or from relatives who are falsely seen to be relatively better off.
In JRC, cassava which I often talked about with passion as an anti-famine answer is losing ground to cattle. Cassava is a perennial crop, meaning it remains on the farm for at least one year or above. With the irresponsible seasonal encroachment of cattle that tend to roam JRC villages from neighboring states, many citizens of JRC tended to be and remained alarmists the moment you dare to remind any of them of re-introducing cassava farming in their areas. Without giving it any significant thought s/he will dismiss the idea as impossible. Say why?
The answer comes ready, because of cattle. Oh My God (OMG), how can a whole community accept a fate plagued with famine just because of cattle? What is the role of community leadership and even political leadership in tackling such serious challenges facing the community? Nothing? Apathy? Resignation and helplessness? Indifference?
There is apathy (and resignation) regarding that in the whole of Roc-Roc D**g payam and in Maleng across Nyinam from Agok and around Wadh-Lelo area and in Atido and Kiyango and Udici, Pa-Kangi and Alel-Thony and part of Kuajieno payam and part of Alur.
Such a challenge honestly must have practical solutions, if there is a will. Not difficult and financially hard solution such as a chain link wire fence, for example. Open, honest and serious engagement, for example with the cattle herders and owners, may bear results. Or earmarking only certain and specific corridors for cattle to pass or grass. Local government authority needs to be involved.
We may also talk of local but hard and termite resistant poles (Kahdo in Luo) and whole (round) bamboo fence like what late uncle Joseph Madut Kon had around his cassava and banana farm in Mebieu (Alur) when I visited his farm in 2014. I had taken some pictures which unfortunately I could not trace now.
Still there are a lot of other areas in JRC where cassava is still part of community`s valued crops regularly farmed. These areas include part of Kuajieno payam, part of Umbilli area, part of Alur and in Ujot of Udici payam. There are more other places which farm cassava and that I did not mention in this sample list.
Most of population around Kuajieno area would mention the challenge of cattle as an excuse for not farming cassava, yet a man called Akuei Akuei (or Akuei Chuony) made a name and a fortune around Kuajieno from farming cassava. He sells cassava and buys everything including cows and goats and pay school fees for his children from his cassava proceeds. Why not emulate him?
In any of the areas mentioned above where population still farm cassava, a Pilot Prosperity Project (PPP) mimicking Akuei Akuei cassava farm can be made by any serious dude. I will draft a PPP sample and share with you guys in the next few days. Just like that of Akuei Akuei in Kuajieno, the PPP has no donor funding. It is meant for any serious individual(s) who may be either employed or unemployed right now but is willing to do something to improve his current financial status or that of some people s/he cares about.
