Agriculture project

Bhar-el-Ghazal

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3rd
quarterly report update: July to September 2007

GENERAL OVERVIEW

In Agriculture sector IAS has worked towards building the capacity of the community in
the transition from relief to development process. The community has demonstrated
acceptance and support for IAS projects through their participation in developmental
projects. The state government and the county authorities have contributed in the
selection of agriculture trainees for the year 2007 agriculture training at Achiek training
centre. 37 agricultural extension workers from Aweil state graduated from the centre on
the 11th September 2007. IAS has helped to raise the number of trained agricultural
extension workers in Aweil state by 173 community based agriculture extension workers.

The prevailing peace has enabled the implementation of projects in Aweil state. The
peace has as well resulted to the region being returning point for both transit returnees
and those coming to settle in their residential areas. The state Government and
international Non Governmental Organizations have continued to address the
resettlement, rehabilitation and livelihood issues.

The road leading to Aweil town from Akuem across the former Aweil rice scheme has
remained a major asset that has been created in the area. It has enabled easy access to the
town and to the Northern market for most consumer goods. Much as it is a necessity, it
has served as a blockage to the flood water; the flow of the floods across the road has
been affected as more flooding has resulted due to lack of spacious bridges. The flooding
came after heavy rains that pounded the area in July and August. Over 3,658 households
from Aweil East County have been displaced by the flood water. IAS conducted a
separate assessment in Yargot payam and registered 416 IDPs.

WFP, UN agencies and international organizations visited Awulwic market where most
displaced families had camped and conducted a rapid assessment. UNICEF and WFP
distributed relief food and portable water to the displaced families. Houses were left
damaged in water while most crops; sorghum, rice and vegetable crops swept by the

Agriculture quarterly report, 3rd quarter 2007 1

flood. The affected families are subjected to being food insecure in the year 2008, a
situation that warrants philanthropic intervention.

PROJECT ACTIVITIES

Supporting recovery and rehabilitation

Agriculture sector has aimed at supporting the recovery and rehabilitation of rural
communities in the region and promoting an enabling situation for transition to
development. Major areas covered in this 3rd quarter are; Agriculture training for
community based agriculture extension workers, agriculture workshops for contact
farmers and capacity building for land and natural resource management for five Boma
development committees.

Agriculture training for community based agriculture extension workers

The three month-Agriculture training for community based agriculture extension workers
completed in the month of August; with graduation taking place on the 11th of September
2007. Aweil East County commissioner presided at the graduation ceremony and
presented certificate of completion to 37 CBAEWs. The graduands have been equipped
with relevant knowledge and skills in basic agriculture to enable them transform the
community through training others and assist them identify opportunities available for
sustainable agriculture. All these geared towards making a contribution to sustainable
food security in the area and creating self-reliance among communities. Subjects covered
are; Agriculture extension, Agronomy, Horticulture, Farm management, Human nutrition,
Agro-forestry and Animal husbandry. The pictorial below shows some training sessions.

Agriculture quarterly report, 3rd quarter 2007 2

Nursery beds preparation A good mix of manure and top soil

Crops planted in rows: Maize sorghum

Hedgerow with local Thou tree seedlings Figure Tree seedlings in a nursery

Nutrition practicals: Meals preparation

For a detailed report, refer to the June-September2007 Agriculture training report

Rice contract farming

The rice project in Aweil County is operating on a cost recovery scheme for 470 rice
contract farmers. A total of 11MT of rice seeds was purchased locally and distributed to
the beneficiaries to plant 75 acres in Yargot, 50 acres in Wunlang, 80acres in Mariam
payam and 30 acres in Mangok. Planting took place in June to July 2007. Cultivation
was however negatively affected as only a few acres were cultivated. People put all their

Agriculture quarterly report, 3rd quarter 2007 3

hope for land cultivation on the government tractor that was provided for Aweil East
County. After just ploughing about 50 acres, the tractor broke down; leaving the farmers
waiting for mechanical breakdown to be rectified for the work to resume. Work did not
resume. However, cultivation in Mariam payam was not affected. The 160 farmers
supported by IAS in 2007 have managed to cultivate 80 acres of rice.

In Mangok, Wunlang and Yargot, the little cultivated rice was swept away by floods. The
flood resulted from heavy rains that pounded the area in July to September. Rice among
other crops cultivated was damaged by the flood water.

Contact farmers training

Training of contact farmers: 80 contact farmers have been trained on the basics of
modern farming and equipped with seeds and tools. Training was conducted in Wunlang,
Yargot and Mariam payams in July and August. Two trainings for 40 farmers were
conducted in Mariam payam while Yargot and Wunlang have had one training and 20
contact farmers trained per payam. The farmers have been equipped with practical skills
for modern cultivation and have utilised the knowledge in home vegetable gardens. In
Mariam Payam, farmers have planted sorghum, maize and vegetable crops in rows. The
contact farmers have also formed into a cooperative society and have cultivated jointly
one acre of rice.

Agro forestry and fruit trees

2000 mangoes seedlings have been raised in Mariam payam and distributed in August to
1000 households.
1900 eucalyptus tree seedlings were raised since March and distributed in August to 1000
households. A few eucalyptus and mangoes seedlings were planted at Achiek agriculture
training centre.

Capacity building in land tenure and natural resource management

This is a six months pilot project conducted by IAS in partnership with Food and
Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Wunlang payam in Aweil East county. It started in
February 2007and completed in July 2007.

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The project has achieved the following outputs:
 Bomas Organised into representative Boma Development Associations (BDCs);
 Adequate mechanisms for access to land and natural resources, ii) restitution of
rights and iii) land/property disputes identified;
 Communities and other stakeholders capacity to use these mechanisms
strengthened;
 Capacity of the BDC to engage in the participatory assessment and planning
process developed;
 Women participation in public institutions responsible for land administration and
land policy development enhanced;
 Trained and well-informed resource management groups established at boma level
able to handle natural resource management and development interventions;
 Boma land and resource management plans developed.

Other activities

Flood assessment
After the general assessment by UN and NGOs in Awulwic village where 3658 household
IDPs were registered, displacement due to floods extended to the villages in Yargot
payam. This prompted a separate assessment conducted by International Aid Services
from 5th to 9th September 2007. Villages assessed were Langic, Atuekcok , Halbull,
Nyioric,Mathiort, Akuemkou Lieth anguei, Kunyuk, Anguek, Kwenwir Kar Marial and
Wunliet; all in the lowland of Yargot. Households registered as displaced were 416.
Tabulated data provides more information of the affected villages.

S/N Village Payam Households affected

1 Halbull Yargot 23
2 Nyioric Yargot 69
3 Mathiat Yargot 3
4 Kar Marial Yargot 40
5 Wunliet Yargot 13
6 Akuemkou Yargot 5
7 Kurnyuk Yargot 80
8 Anguek Yargot 52
9 Kwenwir Yargot 53
10 Langic Yargot 50
11 Atuekcok Yargot 20
12 Liethanguei Yargot 8
Total household 416

Kurnyuk village is most affected with total households displaced as 80. Nyioric follows
with 69 families while Mathiat has 8 families suffering the floods.
Most of the displaced families by the time of the assessment were living with their
relatives in Akuem. A chief representing returnee households in Yargot visited IAS
appealing for philanthropic attention to the affected villages.

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 It is anticipated that the number of displaced families will increase by October 2007. At
the time of the assessment, the flood was still increasing.

At Awulwic, families from flood affected areas of Mangok, Mariam and Maduany payam
were still wadding on water to access Awulwic displacement camp.

We can still trace the route leading from our ruined homes despite the water on the way.

Deserted homes in Awulwic village: some families have camped by the roadside; Akuem- Aweil road
Awulwic village.

Crop situation
Sorghum in flooded villages has lodged in water, a situation which puts the affected
families food insecure in the following year 2008. In Wunlang payam, rice field in
Adiorgot village is completely submerged and this may result to a total loss of the rice
cultivated by more than 100 rice contract farmers supported by IAS in 2007. The same
situation applies for rice farmers in Yargot-Dalabal rice fields and in Mangok Payam as
well.

Agriculture quarterly report, 3rd quarter 2007 6

IAS extension worker assessing the damage on a flooded rice field in Yargot payam
Plans for the 4th quarter

# Activities Time frame

Project Remarks
budget(NSP)
1 Continuation of agriculture October to December 1153 Funds
workshops for contact farmers 2007 available
3 Monitoring of rice farmers October to December -
2007
5 Post harvest crop Assessment October to December 500
2007
6 Feasibility assessment for November to 500
micro-credit project December 2007
TOTAL 2153

By: J. Mwirigi
Agriculture project coordinator - BEG

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