USG-GOSS MEETING ON SOUTHERN SUDAN AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KHARTOUM 000700

DEPT FOR SE GRATION, S/USSES, AF A/S CARTER, AF/E
NSC FOR MGAVIN AND CHUDSON
DEPT PLS PASS USAID FOR AFR/SUDAN
ADDIS ABABA ALSO FOR USAU

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PREL KPKO SOCI AU UNSC SU
SUBJECT: USG-GOSS MEETING ON SOUTHERN SUDAN AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

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SUMMARY
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1. (U) SUMMARY: On Monday, May 25, USAID provided a presentation to
Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) officials regarding a USAID
assessment and recommendations for possible interventions in the
agricultural sector. The audience included officials from a number
of the GOSS Ministries, as well as county and district
representatives. The presentation focused on the design
methodology, the criteria used to prioritize possible commodities
and regions to be included, and the need for further analysis as an
activity is developed. The draft report was favorably received, and
comments from attendees focused on the need to continue
collaboration with the GoSS, USAID, donors, and other stakeholders
as the program design moves forward. END SUMMARY.

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AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY ASSESSMENT
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2. (U) The major constraints to agricultural productivity in
Southern Sudan include: the large number of post-conflict returnees;
low use - or a complete lack of - improved technologies and
practices; poor infrastructure that inhibits market access and the
extremely weak delivery of services by both the public and private
sectors. These are the findings of a USAID evaluation on the
feasibility of the South to harness its potential to increase
agricultural productivity and raise the incomes of the rural
population.


3. (U) The evaluation results were announced Monday, May 25th in
Juba, Sudan at a presentation for representatives of the GoSS. The
US Government's commitment to Sudan extends to issues of food
security nationwide and includes plans for a multi-year,
multi-million dollar agricultural initiative. The evaluation report
was the first step in whether Southern Sudan can both increase the
food supply for its residents and become an exporter of agricultural
commodities. Potential consumers of food exports include Northern
Sudan, and neighboring countries such as the Central African
Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya and
Ethiopia.


4. (U) The evaluation noted that extensive capacity-building
activities would be required to train residents to adopt modern
agricultural practices and new seed varieties. To further assist the
GoSS to achieve its goal of revitalizing agriculture and building
trade and markets in Southern Sudan, several key activities are
likely to emerge: improving business and management skills among
farmers and small and medium enterprises (SMEs); increasing public
sector capacity in policy development and strategic planning;
promoting rural finance to farmers and SMEs; and encouraging ongoing
USAID road construction to build and/or rehabilitate feeder roads to
improve market access.


5. (U) The team announced USAID's intention to initially focus on
the three "greenbelt" states of Eastern, Central and Western
Equatoria in the implementation of this new agricultural initiative.
The team also recommended that the program initially focus on crops
such as groundnuts, sorghum, cassava, rice, and maize as well as
other commodities, including livestock and horticultural products.

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GOSS RESPONSE TO ASSESSMENT
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6. (U) The initial response from the GoSS regarding the initiative
was favorable, with a representative of the GoSS Ministry of
Agriculture and Forestry calling the report thorough and the project
carefully conceived. However, representative ministries at both the
GoSS and State levels questioned the team's assertion that safety
and security issues in Eastern and Western Equatoria states are
cause for concern. They urged USAID to exercise flexibility in
factoring in these concerns when making the final selection of
communities to be served by the initiative. Attendees also urged
USAID not to let safety and security issues override all other
important selection criteria, such as agricultural production
potential, proximity to sizable markets, and the serious need for
assistance.


7. (U) In addition, GoSS representatives strongly urged USAID to
consider methods of formally incorporating government stakeholders
into the process of developing the new initiative. In response,
USAID emphasized that it is committed to being as inclusive and
consultative as possible, and insisted that it would keep the

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government fully abreast of each of the program's phases and
developments, and seek to incorporate their priorities in future
discussions and planning documents.

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NEXT STEPS
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8. (U) Both USAID and the assessment team will incorporate feedback
from attendees of the review session, and prioritize their
recommendations. USAID will then coordinate with GoSS and regional
officials to formalize a bilateral working group in order to
formalize GoSS participation and guidance throughout the
initiative's implementation. The assessment team is now developing
a draft scope-of-work for the program to eventually solicit
proposals from NGOs and other development partners to implement it.
USAID's goal is to start up the initiative by the end of calendar
year 2009.


ASQUINO