In brief
Seasonal flooding in Northern Bahr el Ghazal has traditionally devastated sorghum harvests, but local farmers are now turning the problem into opportunity by cultivating rice on waterlogged fields. Supported by WFP training and Chinese equipment, the initiative covers about 1,000 hectares and involves more than 2,100 households. While progress is visible, challenges such as weeding, harvesting and lack of machinery remain. The effort underscores the role of international agencies and local cooperation in ensuring food security for South Sudan’s rural residents.
In the flood‑prone plains of Aweil, the capital of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, a quiet revolution has taken root: farmers have begun to grow rice in the very waters that have traditionally disrupted their sorghum harvests. The shift, championed by the World Food Programme (WFP) and Chinese partners, has already engaged more than 2,100 households and roughly 1,000 hectares of land as of 2026, offering a new route to food security for thousands of South Sudanese households.
For years the seasonal river swelling has haunted the lowlands of Aweil. When floodwaters rise, they inevitably disperse the crops of sorghum that local farmers rely on for sustenance. "When flooding came, it affected sorghum, but the rice succeeded," said Santino Akech, a 45‑year‑old farmer whose 1.68 hectares produced 42 bags of rice in 2025. Akech noted the shift in a recent interview with Xinhua, highlighting rice not only as a survival crop but as a symbol of hope amid unpredictability.
Haileselassie Berhanu, the head of WFP’s Aweil Field Office, foregrounded the change in program strategy: "We have tried to consider the flood as a potential opportunity, not as a threat," he told reporters. Their discussion reflected an institutional pivot from relief to resilience, aligning with broader WFP goals of long‑term food security. This flip‑flop in mindset has been carried into practical actions: WFP teams began piloting rice cultivation in waterlogged zones several years ago, recruiting farmers into organized groups to pool resources and share knowledge.
The cooperative model itself points to a civic gain: by combining land and labor, households can overwrite past limitations that prevented individual farmers from expanding output. Akech explained that his community used to cultivate only a patch of land, but group effort – backed by WFP training – allowed them to establish bigger plots under irrigation. Group farming not only boosts yield; it also strengthens collective bargaining for inputs and access to markets, fostering local economic agency.
China’s role underscores the international dimension of the initiative. The country has supplied equipment and technical assistance, enabling rice farmers to overcome logistical hurdles. While the WFP guide farmers in planting methods, Chinese partners contribute irrigation pumps and seeds curated to the region’s soil and climate. These cross‑border partnerships illustrate how international cooperation can be channeled into local empowerment while aligning with domestic food‑security priorities.
However, the program is not without obstacles. Akech identified weeding and harvesting as major challenges, citing a lack of mechanised equipment for preparing waterlogged land and transitioning from traditional sorghum practices to rice cultivation. He also noted the difficulty in sourcing rice varieties that thrive under Aweil’s conditions. Without efficient tools, farmers risk churning out inferior crops and raising costs that could erode their hard‑earned gains.
Mutinta Chimuka, WFP’s country representative, added nuance to the use of aid. During a field trip to Aweil, she said that improving local food production is “an important part of the agency’s work to improve food security, alongside the distribution of food assistance.” Chimuka pointed out that the area had retained water through a dry spell, allowing crops to flourish. The director’s emphasis on localized production demonstrates a balancing act between immediate assistance and sustainable development.
State and national authorities are expected to play a role in scaling the program. Chimuka urged closer cooperation with governmental bodies to identify the most suitable rice‑cultivation sites. The move suggests that official land‑management agencies and local councils could help formalize irrigation projects, ensuring that expansion does not lead to land‑use conflicts or environmental degradation.
Notably, the effort to turn floods into rice fields raises questions of public accountability. As the programme expands, governments must verify that aid resources are distributed fairly and that the transition does not disproportionately benefit only certain households. Transparency reports from WFP list training hours and equipment donations, but independent audits remain limited in the region, leaving local communities to rely on the WFP’s internal tracking.
Within a democratic framework, the initiative also intersects with participatory decision‑making. By engaging farmers in alveolised clusters, the WFP sets a model for grassroots collaboration. Citizens have a tangible stake in food production, protecting their livelihoods while cultivating a sense of collective responsibility. Such civic engagement is essential in a country where governance is diversifying, and people seek more direct influence over public resources.
In the broader context of food security, the Aweil example demonstrates how climate adversity can be mitigated through adaptive agriculture. The WFP’s rice program moves South Sudanary farmers from reactive aid to proactive cultivation, a shift with lasting civic impact. As more households adopt rice, the sector may reduce dependence on imported grains, strengthening national sovereignty over food supplies. Yet for this positive trajectory to continue, systematic improvements in machinery, seed variety, and institutional oversight will have to accompany the program’s current successes.
