A new study by IFDC and KIT Institute has found that South Sudan’s continued reliance on seed aid is hindering the development of a sustainable, market-driven seed sector. The study warns that continued distribution of free seeds risks creating dependency among farmers, thus undermining local seed production.
The study recommends a strategic shift toward strengthening local seed markets and ensuring the availability of high-quality seeds adapted to South Sudan’s diverse farming environments. The study’s findings and recommendations align with the goals of IFDC’s Accelerating Agriculture and Agribusiness in South Sudan for Enhanced Economic Development (A3-SEED) program, funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in South Sudan.
A3-SEED is working to transform the country’s seed system from one of humanitarian support to a commercially viable and adaptive sector. Through agri-entrepreneurship and partnerships with private seed companies, A3-SEED supports improved seed production, distribution, and marketing. It also promotes the establishment of individual commercial seed producers, including local outgrowers serving national seed companies.
“We need to create more economic opportunities along the seed value chain, ensure quality assurance in every stage of production, and strengthen last-mile distribution.”
Bouwe-Jan Smeding, the Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Juba
To spark national dialogue on the issue, IFDC and KIT Institute hosted a stakeholder forum entitled “Shaping the Future of South Sudan’s Seed Sector: From Aid Dependency to Market-Driven Solutions.”
The event, held February 19, brought together over 70 participants, including representatives from donor agencies, national and state ministries of agriculture, the South Sudan National Bureau of Standards, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), financial institutions, seed companies, agro-input agents, and seed outgrowers.
Forum participants acknowledged that the current reliance on seed aid has distorted the market, discouraged private investment, and stifled innovation, and the forum called for immediate action to transition toward a sustainable, market-based seed system.
Bouwe-Jan Smeding, the Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Juba, urged, “We need to create more economic opportunities along the seed value chain, ensure quality assurance in every stage of production, and strengthen last-mile distribution.”
He acknowledged the fragile context in parts of the country but urged development partners to deliver aid in ways that do not undermine the market.
Isaac Woja, a seed entrepreneur and representative of the Seed Trade Association of South Sudan (STASS), called for government and donor support in building a regulated seed industry governed by clear laws.
“How do we expect the sector to grow? To compete regionally, our seeds must be certified. We need access to credit, and research in the seed sector is severely lacking. We urge all friends of agriculture to support the growth of this vital sector,” Isaac shared.
Dr. Roberto Kenyi, Representative of the National Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to revitalizing agriculture and emphasized the sector’s potential to diversify South Sudan’s oil-dependent economy. He called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to unlock agriculture’s full economic and food security potential.
The dialogue concluded with a shared commitment to reduce aid dependency and build a resilient seed sector through strategic investment, policy reform, and private sector engagement. Stakeholders agreed that a market-driven seed system is critical for supporting South Sudan’s smallholder farmers and driving long-term economic development.
Below is a summary of the main policy proposals and recommendations from the forum:
- Increase Seed Multiplication: Scaling up seed multiplication is needed to meet the growing demand for quality seeds.
- Reduce Seed Aid Dependency: Reliance on seed aid should gradually be reduced, and the sector should be encouraged to shift toward sustainable, market-driven solutions.
- Invest in Research and Development: Increased investment in seed research and development is critical for improving seed varieties and adapting to local agroecological conditions.
- Strengthen Last-Mile Distribution: Developing efficient distribution systems to reach smallholder farmers in rural areas should be treated as a priority to ensure access to quality seeds.
- Ensure Seed Quality Assurance: Multiple seed sector stakeholders will convene to establish a seed quality assurance board.
Plans to take action on these recommendations are already underway. For example, all major seed sector stakeholders – the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, STASS, local seed companies, South Sudan National Bureau of Standards, the Seed Quality Control Board, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and NGO seed buyers – will convene as a national seed quality assurance board and will collectively design and govern a national seed quality assurance standard.
A3-SEED will help mobilize the quality control board and will provide design and process management support for the quality assurance standard.
With a primary goal of transitioning South Sudan’s seed sector from reliance on humanitarian aid to commercial sustainability, A3-SEED is committed to driving lasting change. The recommendations gathered during the stakeholder forum, along with the actions that follow, mark important strides toward achieving a resilient and self-sustaining seed industry.
A3-SEED is led by IFDC and implemented together with KIT Institute. The project provides market-oriented interventions to move from humanitarian support to a commercial, sustainable, and adaptive agriculture sector. A3-SEED seeks to reach more than 100,000 farming households that will see a doubling of income from marketable surpluses of targeted commodities, thereby improving livelihoods.
