Pochalla County

Report on Food Security &

Livelihoods Assessment in

Pochalla County

September 2014

Compiled by: Mawa Isaac J.

Email: [email protected] [email protected]

Web: www.spedp.org

Table of Content Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………………………..2 Abbreviations and acronyms……………………………………………………………………....3 Contacts: Partner NGOs on the Ground…………………………………………………………...4 Executive summary………………………………………………………………………………..5 Objectives of the assessment……………………………………………………………………...8 Approach and Methodology used during the assessment…………………………………………8 Limitations of the assessment……………………………………………………………………10 Needs analysis...... 11 Emergency context – Pochalla County ………………………………………………………….12 Findings of the assessment...... 14 Household food consumption patterns...... 14 Food security past and current trends……………………………………………………………15 Sources of Income...... 17 Fishing industry………………………………………………………………………………….17 Market outlook, access and perceptions…………………………………………………………18 Agriculture and Livelihoods potential – Pochalla County……………………………………….19 Seasonal Calendar – Pochalla County…………………………………………………………...20 Coping mechanism...... 21 Humanitarian assistance………………………………………………………………………….22 Self reliance opportunities……………………………………………………………………….22 Possible program Implications…………………………………………………………………..23 Economic situation……………………………………………………………………………….24 Vulnerability factors to household food insecurity………………………………………………25 Infrastructure...... 25 Conclusion and Recommendations...... 26 Response logic…………………………………………………………………………………..26 Response recommendations……………………………………………………………………...26 Summary of recommendations…………………………………………………………………..28 Appendices……………………………………………………………………………………….31 A-1: Background of Pochalla County……………………………………………………………32

The Report on Food Security and Livelihoods in Pochalla County was prepared under the overall coordination of Soro Mike Hakim and Juma Bosco (SPEDP).

Mawa Isaac J. provided technical writing and editing support as well as exploring Acknowledgements the current livelihoods status and its possible linkages and implications to food security based on the specific food security and livelihood indicators from the household survey to determine the causal affects. Thanks go to all that provided constructive feedback and comments or helped in other ways to prepare this document including, Peter Kuol (Project Officer) & Chol Deng (Field Monitor) from NPA – Pochalla, Dingor Ojullu Omot (FAC) from CRS – Pochalla, Adowo Omot, Chan Nyikang & Omot Ochan Cham from the County Agriculture Department – Pochalla County, Ochan Cham Okello from County Health Department – Pochalla County, Taban Joel, James Taban from SPEDP HQ, and individuals who helped us carryout household survey.

Special thanks go to Okwier Ojullo Omot (RRC Coordinator) & Olok Gilo Oboya (Deputy RRC Coordinator) from RRC Office – Pochalla County, in making available the data and information for us. We acknowledge the support of Jay Ojary Athoura

(Ag/Commissioner – Pochalla County) and Mr. Ochudho Ochan Akane (Ag/Executive Director).

MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL

For more information and comments, kindly contact:

Soro Mike Hakim OR CONTACT C.E.O – SPEDP Juba Tel#: +211 (0) 955 028 317 SPEDP HEAD OFFICE E-mail: [email protected] P.O. Box 414, Juba – South Sudan @Munuki Block A – Along Gudele Road

Mawa Isaac J. – SPEDP Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Tel: +211 955 028 317 Tel#: +211 (0) 977 348 469 +211 977 101 222 E-mail: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Web: www.spedp.org

Abbreviations and acronyms AIDS Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome CAD County Agriculture Department CRS Catholic Relief Service DRR Disaster Risk Reduction FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FEWS NET Famine Early Warning System Network FGD Focus Group Discussion FSLC Food Security and Livelihoods Cluster FSMS Food Security Monitoring System HH Household HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus IDPs Internally Displaced Persons IMC International Medical Corps KI Key Informants NGOs Non-Governmental Organizations NPA Norwegian People’s Aid RRC Relief and Rehabilitation Commission SPEDP Sudan Peace and Education Development Programme SSP South Sudanese Pounds SSRRC South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission UNOCHA United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs WASH Water, Sanitation and Hygiene WFP World Food Programme

Contacts: Partner NGOs on the Ground

NPA – Norwegian People’s Aid +8821643342149 Areas of focus: Food Security and Livelihoods Name and Contact of CRS – Catholic Relief Services NGO Partners in [email protected] Pochalla County Areas of focus: Agriculture and Livelihoods (FFA), but no project is on-going IMC – International Medical Corps Areas of focus: Health, Nutrition & immunization, WASH Programme (previously)

Authorities met in Pochalla County

Jay Ojary Athoura (Ag/Commissioner – Pochalla County) and Mr.

Ochudho Ochan Akane (Ag/Executive Director). Name and Contact of Okwier Ojullo Omot (RRC Coordinator) & Olok Gilo Oboya (Deputy RRC authorities met in Pochalla County Coordinator) from RRC Office – Pochalla County

Adowo Omot, Chan Nyikang & Omot Ochan Cham from the County

Agriculture Department – Pochalla County

Executive summary The December 15th 2013 crisis that started in Juba and the Cobra Faction in Greater Pibor had marked the beginning of depressing effects on households’ food security and livelihood Assets, lives and crop production in Pochalla County. The crisis occurred more so when the new nation is still battling with its economic stability which was critical in the quest to rebuild the livelihoods of the entire people of South Sudan. The post referendum period as a matter of fact should actually be devoted to the rebuilding of the livelihoods of the peoples of South Sudan in general. More especially with the adverse effects of the crisis and the Cobra Faction in Greater Pibor, actually more and more IDPs are returnees are expected to be seen in Pochalla County hence necessitating the consolidation of their livelihood with their assets both in terms of tools and the technical knowhow. Pochalla County has been further compounded by emergency from prolonged dry spell that lasted for nearly three months and the area experiencing flooding which were regarded more as the underlying events affecting crop production and the quest for rebuilding of the livelihoods of the affected population. It is noteworthy to point here that Pochalla County food security situation is worth to be given considerable attention given the overwhelming need for humanitarian emergency assistance due to the high influx of IDPs as well as the arrival of returnees in the area especially before and after the aftermath of the crisis that rocked the entire country.

[[ The arrival of 1,907 registered IDPs [1] and 600 returnees since last year overwhelmed local authorities, and the few NGOs and UN agencies capacity in Pochalla town. Pochalla County also hosts 3,000 refugees mainly the Ethiopian Anyuak from Ethiopia and others from Sudan at Alari Refugee Camp who arrived in 2004. Poor road network has led to inaccessibility of Pochalla County especially from April – November. This same inaccessibility has seriously hampered humanitarian response to the Pochalla IDPs, returnees and members of the host community to date. The need to ensure adequate humanitarian emergency response in the area especially in the aftermath of the crisis has been seen as a driving factor for this emergency Food Security and Livelihoods; and its implications for household food security assessment in Pochalla County. ______1 The registered 1,907 IDPs are reported to have come from Awuai (Murle), Upper Nile and Ethiopia; however, most of them are now integrated in to the host community

The main findings of the assessment were that; In Pochalla County, low crop production was noticed. This is largely attributable to structural causes such as failure in / or poor harvest, small area under cultivation and poor agronomic practices that led to low agricultural productivity and income, low human capital – knowledge and skills, limited access to social facilities and poor markets, high influx of IDPs and returnees situation. These structural factors are exacerbated by frequent exposure to multiple natural disasters such as prolonged dry spell (case of this year – from May to the second week of July), pests mainly birds and crop diseases among others. These altogether affected households’ food security; besides this also showed a correlation between these factors with rainfall patterns in the County. The assessment also noticed that Akoyi and Akilla Payams registered sustained positive growth in crop production during the first season. As such, food and nutrition security from Sept/2014 through to December/2014 will remain very low, with localised food security problems.

Fish, wild foods and food purchases from the markets mainly supplied from Gambella, Ethiopia remain important for majority of the households. Past trends related to food security already show a significant drop in food consumption patterns among people. The insecurity caused by cobra faction in Greater Pibor since 2010 and the current insecurity crisis caused in 15 – Dec 2014 have destabilized agricultural activities leaving dozens of people crossing over to Ethiopia in search of food. Our household survey results show that many households depend on food assistance donated by WFP and most often have only one meal per day thus cases of malnutrition remain very high for last three years due to insufficient food eaten by children.

The assessment also noticed that female and children – headed families the most vulnerable to food insecurity whist IDPs and returnees are also not excluded. It is noted with concern that most people produce inadequate quantity of food stuff is female headed families and children headed families who are either IDPs or returnees. This is due to inaccessibility of agricultural inputs and low knowledge on modern food production techniques.

However, the main issues of concern are insecurity, poor road network, inaccessibility of agricultural inputs, low knowledge on modern farming techniques leading to low crop production, occurrence of hazards such as prolonged dry spells and floods, limited Agricultural extension services to provide farmers with appropriate knowledge. More critical is the dwindling food stocks and availability of basic commodities (originating from Gambella Region in Ethiopia) in Pochalla market with associated higher prices. 6

In conclusion, there is high agricultural potential for Pochalla County to become self reliant. Though the food security situation appears to be medium stable, the main sources of food still remain Humanitarian distribution by WFP.

Different combination of options is This therefore calls for the need to introduce and expected to play an important role and sustain good potential for life – saving programmes allow the people to meet their food needs. in order to strengthen their community resilience and Increased food and income options would promote self reliance activities that will reduce their lead to greater food availability, access dependency on food and non – food aid assistance. and ultimately improved food intake and diets.

Humanitarian and Development agencies together with local authorities and other partners have to address the main concerns relating to food security including; security, promotion of food and income sources, supporting the food security options of the poorest households and a review and evaluation of the existing activities; school feeding, general food/NFI distribution and warehouse management activities. An appropriate transition into self reliance strategy (with indicators, benchmarks and timelines) is suggested in this report and all partners are expected to work together with the local authorities to strengthen community mobilization and management skills, and to achieve large scale resilience to shocks and eventual integration into the surrounding community.

The assessment therefore suggests a twin-track approach of long These will play a bigger role term large scale investments in agriculture and infrastructure and provide a wider combined with a sustained though, short term humanitarian food and livelihoods assistance as an emergency response intervention potential in contributing to or requirement to lift Pochalla County from its current situation household food and nutrition as well as improve food security by broadening the scope to food security in Pochalla County. security and livelihoods interventions in the entire catchment.

In fact, when effectively implemented would allow the households to bring food consumption up to near to above normal level.

Objectives of the assessment The overall objective is to understand the IDPs’, returnees and host community’s livelihoods and food security situation in Pochalla County; and its implications for household food security. More specific objectives are: 1. To understand the prevailing food security and livelihoods situation of the Host and IDPs in Pochalla County 2. Determine the level of vulnerability and the approach of the communities towards Humanitarian assistance for targeting and programming purposes 3. Determine livelihoods opportunities and suggest appropriate life saving interventions that could reinforce resilience in order to reduce the level of vulnerability of the people affected 4. To identify the specific roles and vulnerabilities of women and men, and the implications for household food security in Pochalla County

5. To assess livelihoods groupings, according to their sources of, and strategies for, obtaining income or food.

Approach and Methodology used during the assessment Prior to travelling to the field, assessment team met with local authorities at different levels ranging from RRC, Acting Commissioner, and Acting Executive Director at County level to the various line departments. The approach used included broad consultations done with the Local Government (County and Payam Levels), Food Security and Livelihood Partners such as CRS and NPA, local actors such as RRC, CAD etc. This was closely followed by secondary data analysis, triangulated through focus group discussions at County and Payam – levels during the context analysis field data collection.

The assessment team was therefore tasked to base on the following thematic areas:

o Humanitarian/emergency issues—IDPs, returnees, floods whose participants were the Department of Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) – Pochalla County.

o Agriculture and food security, including Vulnerability analysis—food security, market & trade: Participants included County Agriculture Department, NPA and CRS, IDPs, Returnees

Methodology

SPEDP employed the currently adapted Integrated Food Security and Humanitarian Phase Classification (IPC) for South Sudan. IPC encourages a mixed-method approach which is obligatory given the complexity of analysis and need for triangulation. The IPC has consistently proven to be an effective tool for improving analysis and informing response.

As such, a mixture of methodologies was used to reach a good understanding about a situation. Qualitative and quantitative methods were central in the assessment and monitoring. Quantitative method was used for collecting a broad range of standard information and gave precise and statistical answers. While qualitative method helped build up an in-depth picture. Often more useful qualitative method is used for understanding an issue or situation. This gave useful insights of the all story of Pochalla County in regards to Food Security and livelihoods expects.

Primary data collection employed a variety of Participatory learning and Action (PLA) techniques including; individual interviews, focus group, key informant interviews and market observation which took 5 days. These were used to gain an in-depth understanding of a situation. Using different PLA techniques gave greater depth to data and information collected. For example, direct observation picked different information from that gathered interviews. Direct observation was a good way to cross-check people’s answers to questions. Meanwhile, Checklists and questionnaires were used to ensure certain questions are addressed, without being restricted only to predetermined indicators. The semi-structured interviews were used, questions were thought up during the interviews, thus allowing assessment and monitoring team the flexibility to probe for more details and better understanding of the local situation. Probing was used to because it’s the heart of semi-structured interviews. During the interviews, probing increased details and depth, on assessment and monitoring.

Household survey approach was also used. This was to enable the assessment to build up a picture of the economy of communities in the County and the ability of households to obtain foods and other essential items.

Random sampling was used to choose key informants from the locations. The simple random sampling was free of bias. The assessment and monitoring team chose randomly 23 key informants in the 4 locations covered. The key informants were carefully selected to be representative of the communities. Key informants were, of course central to investigation and provided information and data on individual. They provided useful perspective on values and activities. Assessment and monitoring team relied upon discussions and a flexible approach to investigation.

To ensure inclusiveness and participation of other FSL actors present in Pochalla County to date, SPEDP worked closely with NPA and CRS while undertaking the assessment. The assessment used both primary data obtained from the locations reached in Pochalla County. A team of four members covered the locations in five days. In total 23 interviews (individual and groups) were conducted covering IDPs farmers, returnees, members of the host community, and local actors on the ground.

However, Secondary data was sought through desk research from recent publications and situation reports, Joint Assessment by NGOs, CBOs & RRC (Drought Assessment July 2014 Pochalla County), FAO and UNICEF, OCHA and FEWS NET.

Limitations of the assessment  Primary data relating to production for the entire catchment was hard to obtain from the farmers.

 Crop performance records were also hard to obtain.

 Some households reached seemed to hide some information that would have been important for the assessment in anticipation of support.

 It was hard for the assessment team to obtain accurate income data households interviewed.

 The sampled geographical coverage did not cover all the five Payams due to inaccessibility

 Related to the above, the sample used for the assessment was rather small for statistical inferences to be drawn.

 Rainfall data could not be obtained during the assessment because it was lacking

Needs analysis

SPEDP needs analysis in Pochalla County is based on the IPC projected outlook shared by FSL. Findings of this assessment are expected to contribute to the IPC projected Outlook in addition to other sources of information. Information regarding generated by the Food Security Monitoring System (FSMS) that is representative at the state-level is also being used since it also contribute to enrich sentinel site-level data which generate information at the county-level.

Quantitative analysis was done based on primary data (from the different payams) and qualitative analysis based on secondary data, key informant focus group discussions (some of which were collected by the assessment team) was used to rate Pochalla County according to vulnerability to food and livelihood insecurity. Furthermore, findings from different local government heads of department also highlighted county and payam level plans, priorities and plans as well as challenges and opportunities.

Emergency context – Pochalla County Pochalla County food security and livelihoods situation continues to be volatile to date in the entire Greater Pibor Administrative Area. The post referendum period that was actually to be devoted to the rebuilding of the livelihoods of the peoples of South Sudan in general was though short – lived. The current crisis and the crisis caused by the cobra faction in Greater Pibor had in one way or the other affected the local community directly or indirectly leading to IDPs, Returnees, and Refugees situations. The arrival of 1,907 registered IDPs [1] and 600 returnees since last year overwhelmed local authorities, and the few NGOs and UN agencies capacity in Pochalla town. It is for this matter to noteworthy and point here that Pochalla County food security situation requires a more sustained and considerable attention to not only foster long term improvements, but also to prevent wide – spread critical levels of hunger should the already vulnerable populations be faced with further shocks. The overwhelming need for humanitarian emergency assistance is worth recognition due to the high influx of IDPs as well as the arrival of returnees in the area especially before and after the aftermath of the crisis that rocked the entire country. To ensure household food needs are met, WFP provides a family ration to the population in Pochalla. Other few Agencies including FAO, NPA and CRS are engaged in different food security and livelihoods projects in the area which include provision of seeds and tools, temporary employment in form of cash for work and vegetable growing which has greatly improved household food security and livelihoods. The County has also become home to some of the IDPs from Murle, Malakal, and Bor among others in additional to extra burden from returnees from Ethiopia and the Sudan. Pochalla County hosts a good number of IDPs with RRC report showing a total of about 1,907 individuals. The same report indicates a total of 600 individual returnees from Ethiopia mainly consisting of the Ethiopian Anyuak. The current crisis and the crisis caused by the cobra faction in Greater Pibor had also in one way or the other affected the local community directly or indirectly as well as deterioration of the humanitarian emergency situation and any possible emergency response since last year which though overwhelmed local authorities, and the few NGOs and UN agencies capacity in Pochalla town. The response was further complicated by the inaccessibility of Pochalla County due to poor roads during the rainy season April - November. Pochalla County also hosts 3,000 refugees mainly the Ethiopian Anyuak from Ethiopia and others from Sudan at Alari Refugee Camp who

arrived in 2004. This same inaccessibility has seriously hampered humanitarian response to the Pochalla IDPs, returnees and members of the host community to date.

The population in Pochalla County predominately rely on maize and sorghum as their staple food which is obtained from the market or own harvest. However, food security indices have generally been worrisome. These structural factors are exacerbated by the occurrence of multiple hazards such as prolonged dry spell (case of this year – from the first week of May to the second week of July 2014), pests (mainly birds and domestic animals) among others. This destroyed several crops mainly maize and also led to water level dropping very low, borehole dry up without water, population migrating slowly to Ethiopia. As a result food prices became inevitably high, occurrence of food shortages becoming the order of the day. With these, it is feared that malnutrition cases are likely to be on the rise.

This prolonged dry spell that affected more than 50,705 individuals (10,141 HHs) also resulted into more than 7,600 individual migrating to Ethiopia. This is believed to have coincided with last year flooding and insecurity that has already rocked Pochalla County beyond community’s capacity leaving the population vulnerable to food insecurity. Consequently, expectations of reduced cultivation because of insecurity and seed scarcity remain absolutely high, and there is likelihood of further depression in October to December harvests, market disruption, reduced food and income sources, and widespread displacement have resulted in significant food consumption gaps in the conflict-affected areas of Jonglei State.

According to South Sudan Food Security Outlook 2014, FEWS NET however, stresses out that Food security is expected to deteriorate over the coming two months, with the population in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) in Unity, Jonglei, and Upper Nile states growing to 1 million by August and that if gaps in humanitarian assistance persist, Famine (IPC Phase 5) is possible in localized areas of Unity and Jonglei states. The same report also reiterates that nearly half of the population in Crisis and 70 percent of those in Emergency are located in Jonglei, Unity, and Upper Nile states. Despite the fact that humanitarian agencies such as WPF, FAO among others are making efforts to scale up assistance, food access still remains limited due to inconsistent airdrops of food

assistance. The assessment therefore looked at a twin-track approach of long term large scale investments in agriculture and infrastructure combined with a sustained though, short term humanitarian food and livelihoods assistance as an emergency response intervention or requirement to lift Pochalla County from its current situation as well as improve food security by broadening the scope to food security and livelihoods interventions in the entire catchment.

Findings of the assessment Agriculture and livelihoods The assessment found out that Ninety percent of households depend on crop farming, with few on animal husbandry, fishing or forestry for their livelihoods. Productivity across all these sectors is still minimal. Agricultural yields remain low due to prolonged dry spell that had affected most of the crops between May and July, inaccessibility of agricultural inputs by farmers, limited use of modern farming tools and practices, and small area under cultivation.

In Pochalla, households food entitlement is expected to derive from own crop production, market purchase which is not the case in Pochalla at the moment, wild food, fishing and transfer. Their food security and nutrition so far depends on the resources “base” that households have and their ability, skills and experience to engage in various food and income activities options.

Analysis shows a generally quantified access to different food sources by an average household size of five members; a food access threshold is 2200 kilocalories in normal year. However, respondents stated that the current crisis has significantly slowed down the calculation to 1200 kilocalories daily minimum energy requirement per person per day.

Household food consumption patterns

Our Household survey shows poor food consumption patterns among most Households in Pochalla. Most of the households interviewed rarely (just once in a week) consume vegetables other micronutrient rich foods. Observations show a relatively low vegetables production across the county due to lack of / or inadequate vegetables production skills, and scarce seeds in almost all the payams. Majority of the households spend comparable proportions on food. This is due to the failure in harvest and the impact of the wide spread prolonged drought across the county. However, the

expenditure on cereals is high during scarcity or failed harvest. Meanwhile, low proportion is spent during fair or good harvest among the most households since it is the staple food in the area.

Not all households own at least a considerable However, concerns noted indicate number of livestock. Yet this could as well very minimal coping strategies contribute to an improved food security among among many household; and households that reared goats, cattle and sheep. therefore very low resilience to food

During this analysis, we identified ownership of insecurity as compared to those who livestock as one of the principle factors that can high resilience to food insecurity

explain the variations in food security levels and have adopted some coping among payams and even counties in Greater Pibor. strategies

The assessment also indicate that about 34, 210 people in Pochalla County are likely to be food insecure by January 2015 if a mixture of sustainable measures are not taken now. The same results indicate about 21,000 severely food insecure and nearly 11,000 are moderately food insecure.

Additionally, about 45,000 households are already eating less or skipping meals on regular days so as to cop up with the current situation. Households’ reportedly have limited income earning sources; though women tend to rather rely on local brew or distilling. Most IDPs reportedly left their assets where they came from as such forced them to depend on the relatives who at first observed them willingly and now domestic violence at family level due to use of facilities and food is at the rise.

Food security past and current trends

Household survey results indicate that overall food security situation deterioration. The total food mainly cereals is not even enough to feed the existing households. This deterioration is mainly attributed to: poor or failed harvest; higher food prices for staple food crops; limited market access as a result of limited cross border trade occurrences between Pochalla and Ethiopia. The reliance on humanitarian food assistance and market food also remains the order of

the day; some individual households are depending on market as a source of food, a situation that sustains the market pressures and higher prices of food commodities as compared to the low purchasing power among households. In all, this could mean that the ongoing interventions have to be doubled if some positive impacts on building households’ resilience to such situations are to be realized.

In addition, most families produce inadequate quantity of food stuff especially female headed families and children headed families due to inaccessibility of agricultural inputs and low knowledge on modern food production techniques. Low income generating activities is common with the IDPs , Returnees , Refugees and even the host community where most women resorted in distilling alcohol (local beverages) and firewood selling as the only sources of income generating activities in exchange of food items at the market. However, due to limited income generating activities and low food production most household expenditure trends remained very low below the poverty rate.

Fig: 1: Past and Current trends Indicator Change 2011 2012 2013 (trend) Food Poor food Fair Fair Poor Consumption consumption (due to inadequate dietary meals – relying on one meal per day – on average) Own food Moderate Moderate Poor products Expenditures HH-High Food Expenditure (due Moderate Moderate High to failure in crop production) HH-High Expenditure on Moderate Moderate High Cereals (due to poor / or very low maize and sorghum harvest) HH-High Expenditure on Moderate Moderate High vegetables (due to unavailability in the market )

Sources of Income Many households are involved in just one or no income generating activity rather than several. On average, households are engaged in only one income activities with only a few involved in more 2 or more income generating activities). Moreover these are mainly unstable and unreliable income sources. This is an indication that as high and volatile market prices (for staple foods) continue to undermine household purchasing power, the severely food insecure households will bear the biggest brunt and are likely to be become extremely severely food insecure.

Second, households that do not produce their own foods such as IDPs, returnees and female- headed families continue to remain highly vulnerable to food insecurity. It was also evident for this matter that Humanitarian food distribution is the main sources of food across the county. Markets and very few individuals are with exception of vegetables and fruits whose main source is gathering/natural sources (case of wild vegetables and fruits). This means that a deliberate effort is needed to enhance household productive capacity but also ensure sustainable emergency interventions such as life – saving programmes as these are potentially self- reinforcing and help to build community resilience.

Fishing industry Fishing as an industry represents a supplementary source of livelihoods next to farming in Pochalla County. Normally starts when the flooded waters gathered themselves into the rivers or cease off and the speed of running water from the two rivers had reduced at the months of October and November every year. The high volume and speed of running water disrupt fishing during rainy season, fishermen prefer dry season when water levels had reduced.

However, fishing activities still remain at relatively low Households practice fishing scale. Informants attribute it to the lack of fishing equipment in order to enhance their livelihoods to support their including fishing gears coupled with low level of knowledge on modern fishing methods among fishermen. This therefore families in times of failure in \\ calls for the need to build local capacity of local fishermen or poor harvest as well as through training programmes, supply of assorted fishing constituting their dietary equipment to enhance sustainable livelihoods that requirements. supplements crop production in Pochalla County 17

Market outlook, access and perceptions

Food commodity prices for especially maize and wheat flour in local markets in Pochalla have increased in the last 5 months according to our assessment. A kilo of maize flour now goes for 20 South Sudanese pounds or more from initially 10 South Sudanese pounds only; a bag of 50 kg of sorghums goes for 300 SSP in the local markets. Households met during our focus group discussions attributed the rise in the price of maize (staple food) to the failure in the harvest this year. Some of them also sighted that they are often forced to sell their livestock in order to afford maize or sorghum flour for food. With such a situation, there are fears that those who do not own livestock or have very few are likely to be in severe food insecurity if an intervention is not taken urgently.

The rise in prices is further being aggravated by the existence of poor market structures with almost no food commodities/supplies in local markets every day. It was observed that only small food stuffs and other basic items come from Gambella in Ethiopia which only comes in large quantities during dry season. The flow of food commodities to across borders with Ethiopia and other neighboring States is still minimal thus limiting trade activities between countries mainly due to inaccessibility. The crisis very often disrupted market systems’ capacity to produce and deliver food, items, or services in response to demand. This may be due to problems at the production end of the chain, or it may be due to blockages elsewhere in the market system.

Most basic need items are scarce and very expensive for a common man to survive and have a better standard of living eg 1kg sugar is 20 SSP, a kg of rice is 20 SSP and a bottle of soda is 10 SSP. The level of money in circulation at hands of the community is very low and they have less money to spend as such most families depend on one meal per day and cases of mal nutrition are common with children below the age of five.

The infrastructural development of the place remain constraint, no roads for movement, net work communication, banking institutions, warehouse for storage is lacking. The standard of living of the people is affected in one or the other due to absence of this major infrastructure. This requires collective responsibility from Government, and Agencies to create awareness and mobilize the community on the key infrastructure.

Agriculture and livelihoods

Potential in

Pochalla County

The potential for agricultural growth remains very huge in Pochalla County and Greater Pibor Administrative Area as a whole, with almost half of the total hectares of agricultural land being suitable for agricultural production. Thus, the county has potential to produce surpluses of cereal and legume crops, and other valuable cash crops where well – coordinated efforts are put together.

Additionally, the potential for irrigated agriculture is also huge with the presence of several streams (though others have short life). However, cultivation is still mainly rain – fed, and irrigation would increase arable land and extend growing seasons especially for vegetables and fruits production. A large proportion of the economically active population of Pochalla County is engaged either directly or indirectly in smallholder subsistence agriculture or fisheries. Another agricultural opportunity is that Pochalla County is blessed with a number of livestock which contribute to the estimated cattle population of 1.58 million in 2010. The Cattle condition is generally good and similar scores are noted for sheep and goats. Due to the good rains, pasture and water are abundant and livestock prices are high and firm throughout with a kilo of meat going for 30 SSP, despite the disrupted border trade. All these potentials may be used productively for traction – ox plough in order to increase area under cultivation for the farmers.

However, its potential is further undermined by an acute lack of economic development, unpredictable rainfall patterns that mean both droughts and floods devastate crops and livelihoods and human and livestock disease epidemics. Rural infrastructure including roads, markets and post-harvest storage facilities are pitiful. Stagnation in agricultural growth coupled with a significant increase in population has led to deficits. The population is likely to grow due largely to the influx of IDPs, returnees and refugees.

Seasonal Calendar – Pochalla County There are two planting/harvest seasons; April - August and September-December. All households cultivated mainly around the settlement and the main crops grown were maize, sorghum, some cassava, sweet potato, sesame, papaya, cowpeas, sugarcane and pumpkin. Rainfall delayed but continued favourably throughout the growing season. Normally rainfall starts in April but this year, it started in May. This slightly delayed planting but the first harvest

production will not be affected. However, the delayed second planting leading to the main harvest season in Dec/Jan will be affected by inadequate rainfall.

The main sources of seeds among the returnees are own seed stock, the market, borrowing, assistance from relatives and bartering. There are no agricultural training opportunities in the refugee settlement. The refugees are restricted form cultivating far from their settlement because they fear Murle attacks. Because of these reasons the areas under cultivation appear to be smaller among the IDPs, returnees and members of the host community. In addition, there is limited access to tools/seeds in general and limited labour for women-headed households.

Fig: 2: Seasonal agricultural calendar in Pochalla County J F M A M J J A S O N D Rainfall First Season Second Season Main Harvest Planting Harvest (sorghum-short term, Unimodal Crop (sorghum-short Land Season vegetables, groundnuts, simsim, term, vegetables, Rainfall beans, maize) groundnuts, Zone Preparation for simsim, beans, (sorghum-short term, maize) vegetables, groundnuts, Long simsim, beans, maize) Land Planting Harvest Cycle Preparation Season (sorghum- long term, Crops for second vegetables, groundnuts, season simsim, beans, maize) Fishing, Fishing, hunting, fruit hunting, gathering fruit gathering

This year, cultivation started in May in Pochalla County. However, above average rainfall received between July and September resulted in localized flooding (mainly rainfall flooding) which inundated cropped areas especially along the river banks.

Coping mechanism Informants reached indicated that they resorted to reduced number of meals, begging, borrowing, eating of wild foods and others moved to refugee camp in Ethiopia. WFP, FAO, Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), International medical Corps) IMC) and Catholic Relief Service (CRS) are trying their best to contain the situation but due to population increased they couldn’t managed in one way or the other.

Humanitarian Assistance As stated above only WFP, FAO, NPA, IMC and CRS are the only agencies rendering humanitarian services to the communities. However, fears are that the current population of Pochalla County and the overwhelming needs still raises eye brows of local authorities and the entire population. Hence there is great need for the other Agencies to go with other interventions to reduce the suffering of the people. Food aid is reported to be the major source of food. The last monthly food distribution was in July 2014. All the food received is consumed by the household members. There is only one grinding mill. However, women who do not afford often women pound the grain by hand.

Self reliance opportunities Own food production is the main self reliance activity that can be encouraged and expanded. Large tracts of land are available for cultivation; an average of 1 hectare is estimated per family, only depending on ability to cultivate. Land is not owned individually because all land is believed to belong to the King of the Anyuak People. The Alari refugees report that Pochalla authorities gave them free access and use of the land when they arrived in December 2003 to date. Pochalla authorities have no issue with the refugees using the land allocated, which is not occupied by any residents. However, the main constraints to farming are:

 Delayed, erratic and heavy rainfall leading to late planting and flooding respectively;  High levels of pests and diseases (birds, army worms and monkeys)  Lack of agricultural inputs (seeds, tools)  Poorly developed agricultural value chains  Lack of alternative sources of livelihood – to facilitate agricultural activities  Lack of training opportunities  Insecurity (the refugees are reluctant to farm far from the settlement) o Limited road and market infrastructure

Possible program Implications Since poverty is widespread in Pochalla, implementation of social protection and life-saving programmes need to be considered. However, other options that focus beyond agriculture should as well be explored. Such interventions should involve a diverse and complementary processes and strategies that redirect the focus beyond agriculture for food production, and towards broader consideration of livelihoods

Among others these may be considered;  Investing broadly in life – saving and emergency response that focuses on improving and building on local knowledge on agriculture through provision of training and extension of farmers on agronomic practices. In general, the use of improved technologies is likely to lead to growth in crop production and productivity.

 Food Assistance; involving provision of relief food to address not only the immediate emergency needs of increasing food availability and access, but also ensuring appropriate nutrition among the affected population; including a 100% food ration scale to IDPs, returnees and other vulnerable households, and a “sustained” supply of Relief Agriculture Seeds to household farmers in Pochalla County.

 Additionally, more emphasis has to be put on supply and distribution of Emergency Agricultural Inputs i.e. crop kits and fishing kits. Coupled with a sustained provision and strengthening of extension services through capacity building to the affected populations in order to boost their production capacities.

Other interventions may include:

 Structuring Seasonal income support activities specifically targeting areas affected by seasonal shocks.

 The need to engage partners on construction of rural access roads especially the community managed access roads and well as feeder roads that link service providers with communities.

 Strengthening irrigation farming especially during dry spell to facilitate vegetables production and enhance farmers’ capacity to with stand hazards such as drought.  Encouraging Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR) Programming to build local capacities to be able to stand and cope up with hazards such as floods, drought and disease outbreaks.  A long term strategy towards the eradication of poverty and food insecurity in Greater Pibor must focus on improving primary and secondary education as well as providing vocational training opportunities. This should include programmes such as: Skills development of young people. Encourage enrolment in primary education, with particular focus on girls in order for them to develop as mothers with better knowledge on dietary practices.

Economic situation There have been no significant changes in the livelihoods of the IDPs and returnees between December 2013 to prior date of the assessment. The IDPs and returnees continue to engage in subsistence farming, they borrow agricultural tools from their neighbours, some seeds filter through to them from the Norwegian Peoples Aid (NPA) vegetable initiative targeted to the host community, and a primary health care centre (PHCC) run by International Medical Corps. Efforts are made to generate additional income through sales of firewood, grass, fish, game, harvesting of wild honey.

Long – term inaccessibility during the rainy season has resulted in the entire county being cut off from the rest of the Area; it is wholly dependent on the Ethiopian market (which trades in Ethiopian birr). Informants indicated that since Independence in July 2011, Ethiopian traders have refused to accept South Sudanese pounds. This has had a devastatingly negative impact on availability of goods in the only market in Pochalla town and the flow of goods into Pochalla County. For the same reason of inaccessibility, there is a lack of access to secondary education and qualified teachers, employment/economic opportunities, markets, further health care services, government support facilities (police, etc), and unattractiveness to NGOs due to its remote location.

Vulnerability factors to household food insecurity

Women are reportedly the most vulnerable. They are involved in all farming activities as well as household activities as compared to men. The “rain – led” agriculture system is the most leading factor affecting agricultural production in Pochalla County. Consequently, too excessive rains between August and October often destroy some of the planted crops along river banks.

Infrastructure The road grid is severely limited. There are only a handful of all-weather roads,

and with on bridge links. Most of the

County is remote locations are

inaccessible during the main rainy season

(June-September). There is no electricity

grid and no nationwide energy system.

Air strip are limited and there is virtually

no civil aviation capacity.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Very low first season harvest for maize and sorghum was realised, but mainly attributed to prolonged dry spell, flooding and pests. Poor agronomic practices and small area under cultivation contributed to low crop production. Resident households are expected to be relatively food secure. Most resident households will survive more heavily on crop production, exchange and petty trade, fish and wild foods. In most circumstances, they will consume close or above 100% of caloric requirements.

IDPs and returnees integrated into the host community and remain as the most food insecure group. A number of indicators suggest food stress among returnees. Together such indicators suggest a grim situation from April through to August.

Whilst, at a practical level, there have been little efforts to address a wide range of issues affecting people’s livelihoods, such as animal and human health care, safe and clean water supplies, education, road infrastructure and agriculture. It is self evident that above issues play a key role in food, nutrition and livelihood security and general development. Solutions to the issues can result in multiple benefits. The benefits can add up to appreciable impact on livelihoods.

The GOSS, NGOs, UN bodies and civil society have not placed considerable emphasis to facilitate higher level of services delivery, which support sustainable livelihoods and development even before the war. This, however, poses significant challenges in terms of services delivery.

However, there is need for further assessments, namely a detailed household food security assessment to confirm the actual food security status given the current food production constraints and not rely on ad hoc observations, feasibility assessment for vouchers and market feasibility to promote trade and make an assessment of the skills and/or services required in the area.

Response logic

The response logic proposed has looked at a twin-track approach of long term large scale investments in agriculture and infrastructure combined with a sustained though, short term humanitarian food and livelihoods assistance as an emergency response intervention or requirement to lift Pochalla County from its current situation as well as improve food security by broadening the scope to food security and livelihoods interventions in the entire catchment.

Response recommendations  The assessment team recommends implementation of a holistic approach in addressing food security caused by both the emergency and reduced production and limited supply of household food basket items. To avoid a cyclic food insecurity situation, the potential for the local producers needs to be enhanced with seeds and tools.

 Furthermore, WFP to maintain food supply within the population since this is the main source of food for the entire catchment and plays a pivotal role in the food security outlook of Pochalla residents.

 There is need to intensify on food based programs through food for assets and /or work programs to increase the amount of sorghum among households and as means of creating temporary employment for vulnerable households. This will further reduce the demand from the market without creating any harm to sorghum market system actors.

 To ensure isolated communities within payams have access to food especially in the rainy season when roads are inaccessible, traders in such locations need to be empowered for bulky purchase of food items with grants.

Summary of recommendations

Fig 3:

Component Recommendation

Food Security and  Investing broadly in life – saving and emergency response that Livelihoods focuses on improving and building on local knowledge on enhancement agriculture through provision of training and extension of farmers on agronomic practices. In general, the use of improved technologies is likely to lead to growth in crop production and productivity.

Other interventions may include:

 Structuring Seasonal income support activities specifically targeting areas affected by seasonal shocks.

 The need to engage partners on construction of rural access roads especially the community managed access roads and well as feeder roads that link service providers with communities.

 Strengthening irrigation farming especially during dry spell to facilitate vegetables production and enhance farmers’ capacity to with stand hazards such as drought.

 Encouraging Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR) Programming to build local capacities to be able to stand and cope up with hazards such as floods, drought and disease outbreaks.  A long term strategy towards the eradication of poverty and food insecurity in Greater Pibor must focus on improving primary and secondary education as well as providing vocational training opportunities. This should include programmes such as: Skills development of young people. Encourage enrolment in primary education, with particular focus on girls in order for them to develop as mothers with better knowledge on dietary practices. Focusing Beyond Interventions should involve diverse and complementary processes and Agriculture strategies that redirect the focus beyond agriculture for food production, and towards broader consideration of livelihoods

Vegetable Exploring the feasibility of promoting vegetable gardening along river Gardening Akobo. This will enable households living along the river to practise year- round gardening. Vegetable gardening will increase production and consumption of vegetables in the areas covered and increased the number of varieties consumed.

Food Assistance o Provision of relief food will address not only the need to increase food availability and access, but ensuring appropriate nutrition:

o Provision of a 100% food ration scale to IDPs and returnees and other vulnerable households in Pochalla County will be of great help

o A 60% food ration to refugees from north Sudan and Ethiopia) and

a 50% to 1600 from Malakal and Awuai and 60% 600 returnees who have been integrated into the host community to be supported with same assistant. All from Jan to July 2015

o Provide a 50% to 200 vulnerable populations of 5 payams of Pochalla County from May to July

Relief Agriculture Provision of relief seeds to 30000 vulnerable households in Pochalla Seeds County

Cowpeas: ¼ acre

Sesame: ¼ acre

Groundnuts: ¼ acre

Short-term sorghum: ½ acre

Maize: ½ acre

Assorted vegetables ¼ acre

Bee-keeping Introduce local bee-keeping knowledge and practices, by providing training Practices on bee-keeping methods and techniques. Implement a small pilot project on modern beehives in Akoyi, Akilila, Adongo and Payam, to promote the honey production at household level. This would stimulate greater honey production, resulting in increased income.

Target vulnerable Cowpeas: ¼ acre resident households: Sesame: ¼ acre Groundnut: ¼ acre

Nutrition  Strengthening vegetables production and diversifying agriculture from nutrition point view, promotion of vegetable gardens will increase significantly dietary vitamin A intake in children. Not only may be that but also result in greater dietary diversity, which is generally a sign of improved overall diet quality.

 Improving consumption habits Fishing Gear Provide fishing hooks, nets and ropes for targeted households living along Intervention river Akobo is crucial in enhancing household food security

Markets o Create market incentive to respond to the high domestic market prices o Strengthening access to markets through road linkages with producing areas: Disaster Risk o Build local capacities in Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Reduction (CMDRR) o Strengthen Community Resilience o Developing contingency and development plan to curve the risk of different hazards o Continued advocacy Returnees & IDPs o Develop returnee skills which is an important input for rural transformation and strengthen resilience Vulnerability o A coordinated multi-sectoral approach required to reduce exposure to hazards and other shocks

Appendices

A-1: Background of Pochalla County

Pochalla County is part of the newly created Greater Pibor Administrative area. It was formerly under Jonglei State of the new Republic of South Sudan. It is situated to the extreme east of the state, located on the border with Ethiopia. The town sits on the eastern edge of Boma National Park. This location lies approximately 470 kilometers (290 mi), by road, northeast of Juba, the capital and largest city in South Sudan. According to the 2008 Census, the total population of Pochalla County was 66,201. As well as the local population, there are about 3,000 Ethiopian refugees in Alari. With the exception of a few administrators and soldiers in the barracks, the entire population of Pochalla County is made up of Anuak.

The Anuak are agricultural Nilotes, closely related to the Shilluk in the north and the Acholi, Alur and Luo to the south. Their culture and language is similar to the other agricultural Nilotes, but very different from the agro pastoral Nilotes, the Dinka and Nuer. The Anuak people group spans the international boundary, and is recognized as being in both Ethiopia and South Sudan.

Much of the County is sandwiched between two rivers, the Akobo, which forms the national boundary to the east, and the Oboth to the west. The dominat people group is the Anyuak who border the Murle to the west and the Nuer to the North, both of whom are cattle keeping tribes, who have a culture of raiding to increase their cattle numbers. To the east in Ethiopia the Anyuak have had tensions with the government, so communications are weak.

Historically, it was during the Second Sudanese Civil War (1983 - 2005), that Pochalla witnessed many atrocities and tragedies, as did most South Sudanese towns. The town and surrounding communities was home to the Anyuak of South Sudan. In January 2004, there were reports of Anuak refugees arriving at Pochalla who had fled southwestern Ethiopia as a consequence of the violent clashes between "highlanders" (Ethiopians originating from outside the Gambela Region) and Anyuak that had erupted in and around Gambela after the killing of eight Ethiopian Government refugee camp officials on 13 December 2003.

Climatic Adaptation of Pochalla is a green belt (Equatorial type) with gentle slope topography (flat) with thick forestry that favours Agriculture development. Annual precipitation is very high, ranges from 780 – 1500 mm. The rain normally starts from March to November with uniform

distribution, sometimes resulting into flooding making other Payams not accessible during rainy season eg Nyikani and Burator Payams. The area has two planting seasons first and second, (first planting season from April—August and second planting season from Sept- Dec). The soil characteristic is heavy clay loam soils that support subsistence system of farming. They use traditional tools like malodo, axes, and panga for land clearance and these traditional tools are inaccessible to farmers, thus had limited the capacity of the farmers to expand their acreage and increase Agricultural output. Most farmers cultivate vegetable crops (okra, kudra and sukuma wiki) along Akobo and Oboth rivers during dry season while at rainy season they plant main crops outside at open area to avoid flooding.

The main crops grown include maize (longi-5) and local variety, sorghum, cassava (sweet type), groundnut (red beauty), and pumpkin, kudra, sukuma wiki, okra and payapaya area planted as vegetable crops. However, despite drought had occurred from May – July early this year that destroyed many crops during the first planting season this has increased food insecurity gap in Pochalla, but second planting season crop performance is update this is attributed to soil fertility and abundant rainfall distribution only limited seeds for planting in the second planting season made them not open big fields.

Though the area is characterized with fertile soils and abundant rainfall distribution ie potential for agricultural productivity, most farmers cultivate an area less than half feddan producing output below average. Few farmers cultivate an average area of 2 -3 feddans and average maize production per feddan is about 650 -800kgs. This low production experienced by the farmers is attributed to many factors such as low knowledge on modern farming practices, use of rudimental tools, lack of planting materials, no road net work and natural disasters such as flood, drought, pests and diseases become major Agricultural constraints. Food production can be improved if only the above constraints are addressed as collective responsibility, for example by training the farmers, provision of agricultural inputs for farmers to increase their acreage and production.

A-2: Nutrition

Previous assessments indicate high rates of global acute malnutrition (GAM), which regularly exceed the emergency threshold of 15 percent in the whole Jonglei State, contribute to excess morbidity and mortality among vulnerable population groups and constitute a significant public health challenge in the State. In Pochalla County, inadequate intake of food and illnesses constituted the direct causes of malnutrition, which in turn were linked to food shortages caused by recurrent shocks e.g. drought, crop failure, insecurity, floods and high food prices, poor infant and young feeding practices which is mainly dictated by the husband or mother in law on how or when the mother should breastfeed her child giving her no room in the decision making, poor hygiene and sanitation and poor access to quality health services. Inadequate food intake constitutes a major contributing factor to malnutrition in Pochalla County.

Besides frequency of feeding, dietary diversity is an important consideration for nutritional status among young children a normal diet in the county constitutes of not more than two food groups which leads to micronutrient malnutrition which brings about diseases due to weak immune system. Pochalla however, is one of the most isolated counties in the state having no road infrastructure connecting it to the rest of the counties in the State and South Sudan for that matter.

In the Interagency Assessment that was done in Pochalla County in August 2012, three payams namely Akiela, Adongo and Burator were assessed and 6050 people men, women, boys and girls were affected by the floods. The situation in the Payams visited was found to be alarming in respect to crop fields and houses being completely destroyed causing population movement of 6050 men, women, boys and girls to higher and dryer land which is already occupied by other residents. Out of this population the most affected are the elderly men and women, children boys and girls under 5 years and P&LW (Pregnant and Lactating Women) and the disabled boys, girls, men and women due to lack of enough and good food, privacy for breast feeding, lack of good hygiene practices because of being in congregated areas hence the risk of outbreaks etc. the current insurgency in the area has affected Pochalla County by receiving Murlee displaced by David Yau Yau rebellion in Pibor and Boma.

It has been reported by the County authority that number of Murle both women and children have been coming into Pochalla County in search for safety as they run away from Pibor for their lives this month. This is leaving the lives of the children in a fragile state to the environment as they cannot get food.

The poverty level in Pochalla is very high since there are very limited job opportunities and illiteracy level is high especially among the females. Most of the HH are headed by women. Frequent border closure between Ethiopia and South Sudan creates high market prices which make it very difficult for majority of the population men and women to afford to buy food of their choice and this discourages room for diet diversity. During weaning, minimum dietary diversity (0.0%) was not practiced due to drought/floods. (Pochalla SMART survey April 2011).Most of the time; they depend on relatives and food rations from WFP. If these women fall ill then the children are left vulnerable since the breadwinner is not able to fend for them food.

The county borders with Ethiopia which has a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS and the disease infection is beginning to escalate especially among the women of child bearing age in congregated areas like Pochalla town. Due to lack of money the women indulge in risky behavior and brewing of alcohol which are breeding grounds for spread of HIV virus. Poor feeding and high energy engaging labor. e.g. fetching of firewood, pounding of sorghum, fetching of water usually make the women very vulnerable to malnutrition and outside forces for abduction by neighboring Murle.

Notes and Comments ______