(JUBA) – South Sudan’s government has launched the Agrofood Expo and Business Forum 2026 with the aim of turning agriculture into a central part of the economy and reducing dependence on imported food.
The event, held in Juba, is led by the Ministry of Trade and Industry together with the Ministries of Investment and Livestock and Fisheries. Organisers said it would serve as a marketplace for business owners, cooperatives, startups and foreign investors to explore partnerships in farming, processing and food supply.
Director General for Trade Fairs Christine Ijino said the expo signalled a shift in policy from viewing agriculture as subsistence work to seeing it as a full business sector. She said the platform could spark job creation and reduce poverty if handled well.
The event is being coordinated by Orient Group and will host exhibitions, investment forums and mentorship programmes for youth and women.
Trade and Industry Minister Atong Kuol Manyang used her speech to criticise what she called an unnecessary reliance on imported goods despite South Sudan holding large rivers, fertile soils and an available workforce. She said most productive farmland in the country was either abandoned or under the control of foreign entities while citizens bought basic goods from outside.
She said the expo was not a ceremonial launch but a tool to push a transition to commercial farming where food is grown for sale rather than survival.
Central Equatoria State Agriculture Minister Lily Kafuki said food self-reliance was directly linked to security. She said hunger drove crime and displacement and that stable farms reduced the risk of conflict.
African Union representative Prosper Addo said peace and infrastructure were needed for agriculture to succeed. He said it was risky for a nation of more than nine million people to lack steady food supplies while owning vast natural assets. He called on the government to follow the African Union guideline of putting at least ten percent of national spending into agriculture.
Although no budget figures were disclosed at the launch, previous government allocations to the sector have remained below five percent.
Officials at the forum said the success of the event would depend on whether policies announced translate into land access, farming credit, storage facilities and reliable roads. They said South Sudan had the opportunity to attract foreign agricultural companies while building local cooperatives to compete in the regional market.
Organisers plan to hold follow up sessions before the full expo begins in 2026.
Agrofood Expo and Business Forum 2026
| Key Focus | Details |
|---|---|
| Event Purpose | To connect South Sudanese farmers, startups and investors with regional and global agricultural partners |
| Organisers | Ministry of Trade and Industry with Ministries of Investment, and Livestock and Fisheries (coordinated by Orient Group) |
| Main Government Message | Agriculture must shift from subsistence to commercial farming to reduce food imports |
| Economic Goal | Replace imported food products with local production and create jobs in farming and processing |
| Security Link | Officials say food production can reduce crime, displacement and conflict by easing poverty |
| African Union Position | Government urged to allocate 10% of national budget to agriculture to unlock full potential |
| Investment Opportunity | South Sudan markets itself as having fertile land, water and labour still largely unused |
