In South Sudan, families affected by conflict, famine, or other disasters use every possible way to survive. When food aid is not available and governments are too weak or poor to help, families only have themselves, their relatives, and the environment around them to depend on for survival.

They also have God watching over them, and they may have a community if it is functioning. Local emergency mechanisms and desperate measures become their primary resources.

In some areas of South Sudan, acute food shortages mean relying on wild foods or wild animals and birds for up to 35% of the family diet; hunting and gathering are still a key part of survival in rural areas. Gathering wild food such as leaves and roots has a social stigma, and many families will deny they do it because they feel it makes them look poor.

Hunting on the other hand has a higher status and is attractive to men and women. Trapping with nets and snares is the most common hunting practice.

Good farming was one of the plans God made for us at the start.

Hunting small animals such as squirrels, large bush rats, larger lizards, and small antelope or monkeys is successful only when the hunters know the area well. They must know where animals feed, get water, and rest in the heat of the day. Nets are then placed at strategic exit and entry points, usually in thick bush, on the previous day. At the chosen time, men, women and children will ‘beat’ the grass and bushes to drive the animals toward the nets and snares. Spears are used to perform the final acts.

Hunting is a good activity and has its uses, we certainly don’t advise against it because God has told us to use the earth to prosper. But as we work toward real food security and economic participation, farmers must rely less on hunting and gathering, which are not sustainable because they’re time-consuming and often yield very little food.

In our food security program, funded by the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, we guide farmers towards productive and viable farming; planting in rows instead of broadcasting seeds, spacing plants for optimal growth, timely weeding, crop rotation, crop management, and other achievable techniques. These simple improvements result in much larger harvests without negative impact on the soil or the environment.

If World Renew’s methods are to work well, farmers have to see initial results very quickly. When a family has a successful farm, they begin to achieve food security and can start thinking about surpluses and marketing for income. While farmers may continue to hunt and gather when this happens, they often hunt only as a dry season entertainment or as an occasional “sport.” Less hunting has many benefits: farmers who hunt are often tempted into the bush-meat trade which has serious health risks and dangers; hunting can encroach on other people’s land which causes disputes; and hunters are also tempted to enter wilderness areas that bring them into contact with rebel militias and put them in danger.

Food security programs work! We’re seeing very good crop yields and participant families are beginning to become more self-reliant. As this happens we expect to see less hunting, more family and social stability, and more marketing. Good farming was one of the plans God made for us at the start. We need to get back to productive and sustainable farming. Smallholder farms in Africa can work, feed families, and produce surpluses using sustainable agriculture techniques.

We’re starting to use some of the methods promoted by World Renew advisor, Roland Bunch, such as green manure and cover crops which will bring even more benefits at very little cost. Please pray that South Sudan has peace and stability long enough to allow farmers to prosper, just as God intended.

Pray for South Sudan

  • Pray for the internally displaced persons as they flee and relocate.
  • Pray for peace and stability throughout the country—for a period of time long enough to allow farmers to prosper.
  • Pray for safety for those who must hunt, especially that they would not come into contact with rebel militias.

Hedd Thomas

Country Representative 
World Renew South Sudan