For improved economy, prioritise agriculture over oil production
South Sudan’s history has been marked by wars and conflicts that continue to cause immense suffering and devastation in the East African region and, perhaps, to some extent, the whole continent.
There is no doubt that the South Sudanese—many of whom are currently, in one way or another, caught up in such a protracted situation— are content with the country’s independence.
A few months away from its 11th birthday, South Sudan is, for the first time in a long time, experiencing a dramatic decline in national, communal, and inter-communal conflicts and wars.
Such a development is the result of the political will we are beginning to see in our leaders. However, this is not in any way downplaying the continued conflict between the government and holdout groups such as the National Salvation Army.
The SPLM government’s record of the peace agreements it has signed in recent years, some of which are currently holding, is by and large a source of hope for a negotiated settlement to the conflict with the holdout groups in the months ahead.
However, the question at hand is, what do we do with the existing semblance of political stability in our country? Many, of course, may have separate, reasonable and helpful ideas for an answer.
However, this is an opportunity for the government to reset a development agenda aimed at rapid economic growth that will substantially bring about food security, strengthen our national unity and identity, and most importantly, enhance the current political stability.
I am not in any way oblivious to the fact that the government may already have such plans on the table, but mine is to echo one of such plans: the investment in agriculture as the primary means of developing the economy.
Why agriculture?
There is no better way of answering this question than by beginning it with a quote from the current president of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, that says: “People will never drink oil nor smoke gas, but they will always eat, drink, and smoke agricultural products.”
Prioritising the agricultural sector to develop the economy is neither strange nor a sale of a low-quality product, but rather a preemptive measure not only against a failing economy but climate change impacts.
South Sudan is endowed with so fertile land that more than 70 per cent of it is suitable for various types of crops, such as vegetables, hay, and horticultural plants.
South Sudan has always farmed less than 4% of its fertile land, both before and after independence. More than 95 per cent of South Sudan’s government revenues come from oil production, which accounts for around 60 per cent of the country’s GDP.
Meanwhile, agriculture contributes less than 15 per cent of the country’s GDP and employs more than 80 per cent of the country’s population. Such statistics show that this heavy reliance on the oil sector has not helped propel economic growth, much to the satisfaction of South Sudanese.
This is enough reason for the government to change its plans on how to best and rapidly grow the country’s economy. In addition to that, the world is currently bogged down in a never-ending discourse on how to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change on our planet.
As a result, many voices of blame have been directed at oil, and coal production, among others. These voices, many of whom are scientists, have continually advised countries and islands to resort to agricultural practices as their alternative solution not only to develop their respective economies but to adapt to and mitigate climate change effects.
South Sudan should follow in the footsteps of Kenya and Ethiopia, whose investment in agriculture significantly contributes to their economies. Investment in the agricultural sector currently contributes greatly to Kenya’s GDP at 35.15 per cent in 2020 but had dropped to 26 per cent in 2021.
With this much gain, Kenya will no doubt increase its investment in many sectors of its agricultural industry as it is mainly reaping from horticulture. Ethiopia is another agricultural success story, with agriculture accounting for 35.45 per cent of its GDP in 2020.
Other than great contributions to the economy, investment in agriculture means proper land and environmental management practices. Land use and its regulation is beneficial to some degree.
Regular use of land helps accumulate and preserve soil quantity and quality needed to prevent erosion and limit its susceptibility to floods. Having a vast regulated agricultural land will attract foreign investment which will bring in the skills and resources needed to develop water management systems all over the country, making it less prone to floods.
Land regulations allow farmers and pastoralists to use and operate within the boundaries of their legally acquired property. This left them with no choice but to resort to the creative, smart, and disciplined use of land, such as hay animal feed farming to feed their livestock instead of the usual free rangeland grazing method that has been the main source of inter-communal conflicts all over the country.
Investment in agriculture is less expensive, leads to better education, income for families boosts the economy, and is the best way of mitigating and adapting to climate change impacts. Agriculture is potentially the quickest, safest, smartest, and most sustainable way of growing a world-class economy for South Sudan.
Investing in agriculture is truly not a zero-sum game; therefore, the South Sudanese government should seize this opportunity to prioritise it over the other industries, including oil.
Alam Mabor Mathei currently works as an agronomist at Farmers Edge, Victoria, Australia. He can be reached at alam.mabor@hotmail.com
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