By Sabri Dibaco
The Republic of South Sudan and Tanzania have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in agriculture by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in August 2016, a move aimed at boosting food production, agricultural trade, and technical cooperation between the two East African Community (EAC) partner states.
The agreement was reached during a bilateral meeting between South Sudan’s National Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Clement Juma Mbugoniwia, and Tanzania’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture, David Ernest Silinde, on the sidelines of the 19th East African Community (EAC) Sectoral Council on Agriculture and Food Security in Dar es Salaam.
In a press statement from the Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, the two ministers discussed practical measures to strengthen agricultural cooperation, with particular emphasis on increasing maize trade. Tanzania remains one of the region’s leading maize producers and a major supplier of the grain to neighbouring countries, including South Sudan.
The discussions also focused on strengthening South Sudan’s agricultural capacity through the transfer of knowledge and technical expertise. Tanzania agreed to support the training of South Sudanese agricultural professionals in key areas such as irrigation, farm mechanisation, and modern farming techniques to help improve productivity and enhance food security.
The two governments reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation and agreed that the planned Memorandum of Understanding will establish a formal framework for collaboration in technical training, knowledge exchange, investment promotion, and agricultural development.
They said the partnership is expected to contribute to South Sudan’s efforts to modernise its agriculture sector, increase domestic food production, and reduce reliance on imported food commodities.
The planned agreement also reflects the growing economic and trade relations between South Sudan and Tanzania under the framework of the East African Community, with both countries seeking to promote regional integration and sustainable agricultural development.
The Memorandum of Understanding is expected to be signed in August 2026, marking a significant milestone in the two countries’ efforts to enhance agricultural cooperation and improve food security across the region.