JUBA, South Sudan – The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), in collaboration with the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries (MLF), with support from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and other development partners, today officially launched the South Sudan Agriculture Conference 2026 alongside the new MAFS website. The event took place on Tuesday, 07 April 2026, from 08:00–11:00 AM at Pyramid Continental Hotel in Juba.
The Conference, scheduled for 04–08 May 2026, will be held under the theme:
“Investing in Agri-food Systems for Better Life in South Sudan.” It is a flagship national initiative aimed at mobilizing public and private-sector investment, strengthening partnerships, and accelerating the transformation of South Sudan’s agriculture sector.
South Sudan is endowed with significant agricultural potential, including over 80 per cent of its land area as arable land, abundant water resources, and diverse agro-ecological zones. Despite this, the sector continues to face challenges, including climate shocks, limited infrastructure, low productivity, and weak market systems. The Conference seeks to address these constraints by promoting investment, innovation, and policy alignment across key value chains, including crops, livestock, fisheries, irrigation, and agribusiness.
Speaking at the launch, Hon. Lily Albino Akol, Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, emphasised the importance of translating agricultural potential into tangible outcomes:
“This conference comes at a critical time when South Sudan is seeking practical solutions to strengthen food security and build resilience. We must scale up investment, improve access to technology, and strengthen extension services so that increased production leads to better livelihoods and nutrition outcomes for our people.”
The launch also marked the unveiling of the new MAFS website, a strategic digital platform designed to enhance information sharing, transparency, and stakeholder engagement. The website will host key resources, including conference information, investment opportunities, policy documents, and sector updates, serving as a central hub for coordination between government, investors, development partners, and the public.
Hon. Atong Kuol Manyang, Minister for Trade and Industry, underscored the close collaboration between her ministry and the agriculture sector, noting that the conference is a key step toward unlocking investment aligned with the government’s priorities. She stated that the President of the Republic of South Sudan, His Excellency General Salva Kiir Mayardit, has positioned agriculture at the centre of the country’s development agenda due to its transformative economic potential.
“His Excellency General Salva Kiir Mayardit has identified agriculture as a priority sector because of its capacity to drive South Sudan’s economic development. This conference is therefore a practical step toward implementing that vision by promoting investment in agriculture as a catalyst for national growth.”
The World Bank Country Manager for South Sudan, Charles Undeland, underscored the urgency of addressing food insecurity and the importance of private sector engagement:
“Over 10 million people in South Sudan are food insecure, yet the country is endowed with vast arable land and water resources; this conference is therefore a critical step toward addressing that gap, and the government must draw stronger support from the private sector, local farmers, and stakeholders, because reliance on donor funding alone will not make a meaningful difference—it is merely a drop in the bucket.”
Hon. Lasuba Ludoru Wongo, Minister of Mining, welcomed the launch of the Agriculture Conference as both timely and strategic, underscoring its importance in reshaping the country’s economic trajectory.
“Investing in agriculture will support South Sudan’s transition away from heavy reliance on petroleum, which accounts for over 90 per cent of national income, while expanding the revenue base and addressing the persistent challenge of food insecurity.”
The launch event serves as a precursor to the main conference, providing a platform to brief stakeholders, development partners, and the media on the conference objectives, thematic areas, and expected outcomes. It also plays a critical role in mobilising private-sector actors and potential investors to participate in the conference and explore opportunities within South Sudan’s agriculture sector.
Over the course of the conference, stakeholders will engage in high-level policy dialogue, technical discussions, and investment forums, with a strong emphasis on youth and women empowerment, climate-smart agriculture, and inclusive agricultural growth. The Conference is expected to deliver key outcomes, including a national communiqué, investment frameworks, and actionable strategies to guide the transformation of South Sudan’s agricultural sector.
