#PostRILx25 | Climate Smart Agriculture Strategies: The Case of South Sudan
Climate Smart Agriculture Strategies: The Case Of South Sudan, October 2025.
Written by Repent Woroh Odrande - Executive Director of Active Youth Agency (AYA) and Chair for RISE Consortium
What makes a solution climate-smart?
By climate smart, we mean agriculture that sustainably increases productivity and resilience to environmental pressures, while at the same time reduces greenhouse gas emissions, avoids deforestation or removes them from the atmosphere, because we cannot ignore the fact that agriculture is itself a large emitter of greenhouse gases.
What food system actors are best placed to facilitate the scaling of climate-smart solutions?
Engagement of farmers with resilient crops, such as green gram (duduṛu) in South Sudan and establishment of Drip irrigation to provide greens to the vulnerable people ;
Introduction of better water management systems;
Intensification of soil conservation;
Tailor-made community-based trainings;
Intensification of demonstration farms;
Improving access to finance incentives.
What kind of solutions are farmers in resource-poor, climate-affected areas asking for? Does that match the kind of innovations that are being funded?
Strategic Issue: Vulnerabilities due to unsustainable natural resource management.
Strategic goal: Enhanced resilience of agriculture systems to climate change impacts through sustainable natural resource management.
Strategic objective: Mainstream sustainable natural resource management into production systems to enhance resilience of the farmers, pastoralists and fisher-folk.
Strategies
Establish baselines and undertake inventory of the existing natural resources: This entails reviewing and collating information on existing natural resources and their distribution; undertaking inventory and mapping of natural resources; and developing and maintaining a database for natural resources at National and County levels.
Promote Sustainable Management and Utilization of Natural Resources: This involves the development of a framework for sustainable natural resource management; the development and implementation of programmes and projects on sustainable management and utilization of natural resources. This includes integrated soil health management to include soil nutrient management, soil and water conservation, and conservation agriculture; restoration of degraded soils and conservation of soil biodiversity; protection of riparian reserves, fish landing stations, wildlife corridors and stock routes. In addition, challenges of invasive species in cropping systems, grazing systems and fisheries (e.g. water hyacinth, Prosopis juliflora and Striga weed) and the establishment and implementation of mechanisms for resolving natural resource use conflicts will be undertaken.
Promote water harvesting and storage, irrigation infrastructure development and efficient water use Eg Drip/ Bottle irrigation in semi Desert area: This entails incorporation of components that enhance resilience (irrigation of crops, aquaculture, livestock watering and agroforestry) in designs and development of water harvesting and storage structures; development of appropriate irrigation infrastructure and technologies (including use of clean energy) as per the prevailing farming and pastoral systems; and promotion of effective and efficient agricultural water use, including waste water management.
Promote and support conservation and propagation of germplasm of species with adaptive capacity: This involves the establishment of in-situ and ex-situ genetic resources conservation areas/centres, the identification of species of livestock, crop and fish origin that are adaptive and tolerant to adverse weather conditions, breeding, multiplication and field trials and demonstrations.
Strengthen research, technology development and dissemination for sustainable natural resource management: This involves participatory and collaborative research towards development of suitable sustainable natural resource management technologies and innovations as well as technology packaging and transfer to end users e.g. farmer’s field schools, exhibitions, demonstrations, exchange visits, ICT, and electronic and print media.
About AYA South Sudan
Active Youth Agency (AYA) is a Women focused, Youth, Disability led Organization. Founded on 27 /11/2004 with the aim of strengthening the capacity of war affected people of Southern Sudan through Health, Livelihood, Civic Education, Peace Building, Human right, good governance, rule of law and democracy, Child protection, GBV response, prevention, social protection of persons with disabilities and inclusion.
AYA hosts the Resilience Innovation Sustainable (RISE) initiative, which brings together eight national women-, youth-, and disability-led organizations, along with one international organization serving in an advisory role.
Vision: “AYA envisages a healthy, harmonious and vibrant society in South Sudan.”
Mission: “AYA exists to empower, strengthen and build the capacity of communities through advocacy and communication, socio-economic activities, health and civic education for peaceful coexistence in South Sudan.”