A migrant’s story: Sewing the seeds of passion

Gakiza Allan Joseph, a 33-year-old Ugandan, walked into South Sudan’s Western Equatoria State back in 2011, and saw the green countryside as a new business opportunity.

“I was impressed by the vast lands that looked virgin and very fertile,” he said. “Back home in Uganda people are struggling to get even one plot to plant.”

I encourage all the South Sudanese and also the government to join me in the fruit farm so that we can kick out poverty.”

Allan decided to invest in intensive crop agriculture and animal husbandry, specialising in passion fruit. Given the rich soils of Western Equatoria State, he did not need to add any fertilisers.

Allan, who trained as an economist, said that passion-fruit farming is a long-term project, and he aimed to introduce a new species to the people of Western Equatoria.

“It takes one year before it flowers and later yields the fruit so I am patient,” he said.

“Passion fruit takes between one and three years to start producing fruit and can last between five and seven years,” Allan said. “I am doing this on a trial basis but if the harvest is good then I will expand to at least five acres.”

He aims to sell the fruit at Yambio and Nzara markets.

Having spent many years in South Sudan, and having worked with a number of South Sudanese colleagues, Allan said both the state and South Sudan should focus on fruit farming to boost incomes.

“If more effort and focus is put into agriculture, especially in Western Equatoria State, I can imagine a nation that is not only fully fed but has a surplus and can sell to other countries,” Allan said, referring to a country where seven out of ten people are facing food shortages.

But his work was hampered by a lack of experienced work force and a shortage of key pesticides needed for his work. “It also takes a long time before you start getting any returns and this is the downside for a small scale farmer,” Allan added.

“I encourage all the South Sudanese and also the government to join me in the fruit farm so that we can kick out poverty,” he said. “As a foreign national tomorrow I may leave and they can continue my journey.”