3276: ROUNDTABLE: Can the Agriculture Conference Deliver Real Change for Food Security in South Sudan?

The Roundtable episode examines the upcoming National Agricultural Conference in Juba, South Sudan, scheduled for May 4–8, 2026, amid deepening food insecurity affecting over 7.6 million people. Host Sani Martin convenes a panel with Evans K. Solomon, Technical Advisor at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and Felix Ndrumi, Acting Country Representative of the FAO, to assess whether this high-profile event can deliver tangible change. The conference aims to unlock the Comprehensive Agricultural Master Plan (CAMP), attract investment, strengthen agri-food systems, and address systemic challenges like land tenure, infrastructure, seed delivery delays, and climate shocks. Despite optimism about the event’s potential, skepticism abounds—especially given past failures of national conferences to produce lasting outcomes. Listeners raise urgent concerns about the misallocation of funds (e.g., $750,000 for a conference while farmers lack seeds), delayed seed deliveries, lack of inclusion for disabled and youth farmers, and the persistent gap between policy and on-the-ground implementation. The panel acknowledges these challenges but emphasizes that this conference is uniquely positioned to enforce follow-through through a formal implementation framework and stronger coordination between government, donors, and private investors. The episode ends with cautious hope that sustained political will and practical action could finally turn South Sudan’s vast agricultural potential into real food security for its people.