EVALUATION OF RICE PRODUCTION IN AWEIL RICE IRRIGATION SCHEME OF NORTHERN BAHR-EL-GHAZAL STATE IN SOUTH SUDAN

Abstract

A 4 weeks’ data collection was carried on Aweil Rice Irrigation Scheme (ARIS) and the rice farmers from the surrounding community including some governmental institutions such as State Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the State Ministry of Cooperatives and Rural Development under Northern Bahr -el-Gazal State Government. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the economic viability of rice farming and production, existing infrastructures, water infrastructure, as well as other information related to capacity gaps in ARIS and the smallholders rice farmers in Aweil Town. Semi–structured interviews comprising of both qualitative and quantitative were used during the study to gather information on rice farming in Aweil. ARIS was established in 1944 by the British Colonial Administration in the then Sudan and the scheme covers an area of approximately 11,000 feddans with 9 basins which used to produce about 3 tons of rice per hector. However, the scheme remained inactive due to the long-standing civil wars in the former Sudan before South Sudan’s independence and its administration is currently placed under the National Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Republic of South Sudan in Juba. There is very high demand for rice grains in the domestic and regional markets. The major challenges facing the scheme were: floods from the Lol River through the canal during the peak rainy season, zero germination rate of seeds received from partners, lack of seed multiplication technology and skills to preserve indigenous and adoptive rice seeds, limited mechanized tools, lack of credits from the formal financial providers to boost the rice farmers’ earnings. The Government and partners should establish National Rice Projects in uplands/lowlands and encourage the private sector to implement the local banking policies with a focus on the rice scheme and the farmers’ access to credits for resilience and sustainability in Aweil and the whole country. South Sudan is encouraged to obtain membership in the coalition for African Rice Development. Future studies into the Aweil Rice Irrigation Scheme is recommended.