South sudan's water resources, sectoral use, and ırrıgatıon ımplementatıon ıssues; the case of juba

Global population growth, especially in Africa, is increasingly affecting food security and sustainable agriculture due to challenges such as limited arable land, scarce clean water resources, and rising food demand. The United Nations forecasts significant population growth in Africa, which will lead to a higher demand for expanded food production and irrigation systems. This study examines the management, legal, administrative, and financial challenges faced by irrigation cooperatives in Juba. To collect data, farmers were given surveys related to water usage, irrigation efficiency, and agricultural practices. The responses collected were analyzed using SPSS to identify trends and draw conclusions. Based on the findings from the study, solutions have been proposed to improve agricultural productivity and water management in South Sudan. South Sudan, with a population of approximately 13 million, faces significant challenges such as water distribution issues, inadequate infrastructure, and inefficient irrigation systems. Despite having abundant water resources, such as the White Nile, Sobat River, Bahr el Ghazal, and the vast Sudd wetlands, the country experiences food insecurity due to these barriers. The total area of South Sudan is approximately 658,842 km², and land use is distributed as follows: agricultural land (4.3%), forests (32.6%), shrubs (39.3%), herbaceous plants (22.8%), urban/industrial areas (0.1%), rock and soil areas (0.2%), and water areas (0.7%). Despite having abundant water resources with an annual per capita of 3,936 m³, South Sudan's farmers face critical issues such as inadequate irrigation, poor land management, and low water efficiency. This hinders agricultural productivity and leads to severe food shortages. It indicates that South Sudan has significant agricultural potential, but a large portion of its land remains unused. The country is facing infrastructure deficiencies, irregular water distribution, and dependence on traditional farming methods, which limits access to modern agricultural practices. It was found that, 62% of the farmers participating in the study prefer sprinkler irrigation, while 23% prefer surface irrigation. Only 15% of the participants have chosen drip irrigation as their preferred method. No farmers practice pivot irrigation. The satisfaction of farmers with cooperative management is generally at a negative level. Specifically, in the Management category, 20% of the participants rated it as very poor, 26% as poor, 32% as sufficient, 6% as excellent, and 16% as good. Regarding supervision, 38% rated it as very poor, 28% as poor, 20% as sufficient, and 14% as good. Regarding Irrigation Plans, 12% rated them as very poor, 30% as poor, 42% as sufficient, and 16% as good. Among the recommendations are significant investments in rural infrastructure, improvement of water management systems, increasing the education levels of farmers, and promoting climate-resilient agricultural practices. The study emphasizes the need for sustainable land and water management and proposes region-specific strategies to address food security issues in South Sudan. Additionally, it is strongly emphasized that government policies should encourage private sector investments and strengthen agricultural marketing and distribution systems to support local farmers.