Matangai payam in Rumbek is home to a community of farmers. Its green cultivated landscape a sharp contrast to the surrounding fields, yellowed by scorching sun and lack of rain. The air is musty, heavy with the weight of recently watered plants, similar to the scent of raindrops falling on dust. Light laughter and fast paced conversation fills the air as a group of women wait their turn to pump water from the borehole, centred in the fields. Women, young and old, are scattered across the fields, carefully watering their crops and uprooting rogue weeds.
When conflict broke out in December 2013, it had adverse effects on communities across South Sudan. In Rumbek, it only served to exacerbate internal conflicts that were already at play. Cases of revenge killing rose and many men were forced to leave their families in search of safety.
In Matangai, insecurity has negatively affected harvests over the past two years. Now there isn’t enough food to support families, let alone sell in the market. The community’s livelihoods are under constant threat. “It is hard to be a dedicated farmer when there is fighting everywhere. Men are not around to help with the digging because they are fighting or looking for safety. There is very little cultivation going on in the villages,” says Mary Ateng, a farmer in Matangai, on the challenges of tilling land in an uncertain context.
Poor access to water is detrimental to the crops. The members of Matangai community rely heavily on rainfall and distant boreholes and it is difficult for many to irrigate their land, especially if the rains are delayed or fail. Many crops fail because they are not nourished adequately.
“In the dry season, we walk for over an hour to collect water from nearest borehole,” says Rebecca. “Sometimes there is not enough time to go twice and the water collected in the first journey is only enough for use at home. Usually none is left to water the gardens. If the rains are delayed or fail, it’s impossible for us to have a good harvest.”
Oxfam held discussions with community on possible solutions to their water problem and a borehole was agreed to be the most sustainable option. A solar powered borehole was drilled at the centre of Matangai making clean water more accessible to the community.
“Having water close is very important and has changed how I spend my time. I can plan better. I have enough time to carry out domestic duties at home, take care of my duties at home, and spend time on my farm. I have already harvested and sold some vegetables from my garden,” says Rebecca.
Although access to water has improved and cultivation continues, the people in Matangai still face many challenges. Some women cannot walk to and from the market and have to trust middle men with their products.
“Some of us can’t go to the market because we have other duties to take care of at home. Some of us are already too old, some pregnant and some are mothers, so it’s difficult to leave home,” says Mary, another farmer in Matangai. “We are alone here. Unless your children are grown or your husband is around, there is no one else to take on these responsibilities.”
This reality is not unique to Matangai. Many mothers are carrying the responsibility for their families alone, protecting and nurturing them, and at the same time making sure that they are provided for. The vegetable gardens have helped women in Matangai earn a living, plan their future and sustain their hopes, although the deteriorating economic and political situation in South Sudan is putting these hopes on hold.
“Normally we store a lot of food, in preparation for the rainy reason, but this time we were not able to. After the conflict in December 2013, there was a lot of relocation and migrating cattle destroyed crops. The South Sudanese pound keeps losing value and what we earn can’t keep up with the markets. There is not enough food to eat, let alone keep,” says Dom Koch, one of the few men still in Matangai. “All I have left are grains, enough to last two months. If that runs out, I don’t know what we will do.”
The rains are fast approaching and the seeds have been planted. In this small community, there is silent optimism for the next harvest.
“We really hope for the rains to fall soon. Pumpkins need a lot of rain. There are also some edible wild vegetables in the bushes that grow well with the rain. If the rains are late, the borehole can sustain us until the rains come ,” he says.
The optimism of the Matangi community is a testament to their resilience and adaptability to extremely difficult circumstances. An end to the conflict is urgently needed so that these families can continue to grow their own food, so that markets and the economy can be restored and their long-term food security can be guaranteed.
Oxfam works on with communities in Rumbek to improve access to safe water and livelihoods as well as build and strengthen their resilience to shocks by ensuring there is adequate linkage between relief and development. Our programmes focus on governance, peace building, income generating activities and water supply.