RUBKHONA COUNTY, SOUTH SUDAN) – A mass livestock vaccination campaign targeting more than 400,000 heads of cattle has begun in Unity State, covering seven counties.
The exercise was officially launched by the State Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries together with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.
The campaign is being carried out under the Climate Resilient Agricultural Livelihoods Project, a project funded by the United Kingdom.
The work aims to produce healthier and more resilient herds, protecting the livestock assets that communities across the area depend on for milk, meat and income.
The drive is timed to get ahead of the approaching rainy season. When the rains arrive, livestock movement and grazing increase and the risk of disease outbreaks rises sharply. The vaccination is designed to protect animals against priority diseases and to prevent losses before they happen.
The push in Unity State forms part of wider agricultural support across the country.
In Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, the FAO with backing from the African Development Bank Group has launched the 2026 rice planting season at the Aweil Rice Scheme. More than 3,000 feddans of farmland are targeted for cultivation this year.
The Aweil Rice Scheme is a major investment in transforming agriculture and creating livelihood opportunities for farming communities. The initiative uses continued farmer support, improved practices and strengthened partnerships to build more productive agrifood systems.
In Juba this month, South Sudan recently held its first Agriculture Conference organised by FAO. More than 500 participants gathered under the theme “Investing in Agrifood Systems for Better Life in South Sudan.”
The FAO has said it remains committed to working with development partners to support sustainable agricultural growth. The goal is to strengthen rural livelihoods and contribute to a future free from hunger in South Sudan.