2021 Seed Grant Award Problem Statements 

Agriculture / Food Security

Problem #7: The Fall Army Worm outbreak continues to ravage farms in South Sudan and its effects are projected to significantly affect cereal production in the Country.

Country/Region of execution:  South Sudan
Collaborating Organization: World Concern Development Organization
World Concern, an international relief and development agency founded in 1955, focuses on the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable within society, providing capacity-building for partners, while having the flexibility to respond to disasters through relief and rehabilitation assistance. Currently World Concern is implementing roughly $30 million in programming in its 10 country offices located throughout Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Since 1991, WCDO has received, implemented and administered grants in excess of $59 million from USAID. WCDO headquarters is based in Seattle, WA, and the South Sudan country office is located in Juba, Western Bhar al Ghazal.
Problem Statement Description:  The problem presented in in line with SDGs no.2 Zero Hunger: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. The Fall Army Worm outbreak continues to ravage farms in South Sudan and its effects are projected to significantly affect cereal production in the Country. This pest feeds on more than 80 host plants, but prefers maize or sorghum, which are the major staple crops in South Sudan. Any production loss to this pest is likely to have a significant impact on the already precarious food security situation in the country. South Sudan is currently facing serious levels of food insecurity, an estimate 55 percent of the country’s population could face severe acute food insecurity in 2020, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis. This is caused by many factors including destruction done by army worms. The problem is further complicated by the lack of government policy on production and or importation of pesticides and thus no chemical-pesticides are allowed in the Country. This largely leaves farmers to bear the consequence of lack of pest control affecting their crops. The range of options available for immediate response are limited as the knowledge of control interventions are low, and costs are high, hence leaving majority of farmers in South Sudan exposed to losses. Majority of these farmers use locally made pesticide made from neem tree, tobacco and green pepper whose efficacy and effectiveness are not well established or documented. There is a great need to carry out scientific research on herbal and or natural solutions that will be agreeable to the government and demonstrate empirically with data the efficacy of suggested solution(s).