(DAR ES SALAAM) – South Sudan and Tanzania will sign an agriculture cooperation pact in August 2026, a deal set to boost maize trade and transfer farming skills in irrigation and mechanisation to Juba.
The agreement was reached on the sidelines of the 19th East African Community Sectoral Council on Agriculture and Food Security held in Tanzania’s commercial capital. South Sudan’s National Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Clement Juma Mbugoniwia, met with Tanzania’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture, David Ernest Silinde.
The two officials discussed ways to strengthen agricultural ties between the two nations. A key focus was increasing maize trade, a commodity where Tanzania already holds a strong position in the region.
Talks also covered the transfer of agricultural knowledge and skills from Tanzania to South Sudan. The discussions gave special attention to building the capacity of South Sudanese technical staff in irrigation and mechanisation, fields where Tanzania has built considerable expertise.
This cooperation is expected to help South Sudan modernise its farming sector and cut its reliance on food imports.
Both sides pledged to deepen cooperation and agreed to put the partnership into a formal Memorandum of Understanding to be signed in August 2026.
A statement from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security said the pact will set up a clear structure for collaboration, covering technical training, knowledge exchange and investment promotion in the agriculture sector.