Farmer Interview: Aguil Tong Kuany
Aguil Tong Kuany, Farmer, Majok Goi Village
Now that we’ve finished the first harvest of our 25-acre flood-resistant farm in Majok Goi we wanted to interview a few of the farmers to understand their experience over the last year. Read the transcript (translated from Dinka to English) of our project director Luka Garang’s interview with Aguil Tong Kuany below.
Luka: Tell me about yourself
Aguil: My name is Aguil Tong Kuany from Majok Goi village. I am 35 years old. I am the mother to 6 children: 4 boys and 2 girls.
Luka: What can you tell me about this project of farming?
Aguil: Yes, the project has helped the community of Ajak Center and me particular as the mother of twin babies. This project started last year when I was completely had nothing in the house and the twin need food! The project come in and start like dream to me! I got sorghum and my life become promising to be okay and that is why I pointed out that the project had really help beyond standard of our normal expectation.
Luka: What is the impact of this project to you and community of Ajak Center?
Aguil: As told you before that the project had helped it was not a joke to say that, it is real and everyone who had participated in this project had real got stories to tell to the people because we survive on this project and this was our life and if I compare this project with other projects here then no single relation that I can tell because we were getting sorghum and money which is not provided by other NGOs which are doing the same thing like your project in Majak Goi!
Luka: Do you have any question for me?
Aguil: Yes, there is, when are you going to start the project again?
Luka: Well, the decision is from the project director and I’m managing director for farm and I do what the director told me to do. We are not yet start but I will convey your concern with date of starting the project, and then I will let you know!
Aguil: Thank you
Aguil is able to feed her twins because of the sorghum she has helped to plant and harvest. Donations like yours make that possible! Donate below!
South Sudan has several factors contributing to unreliable food availability:
1.) The longest-running civil war in history ended only recently in South Sudan, meaning that generations were preoccupied with the fight for survival and not learning and passing on farming techniques. The generational knowledge that so many farmers have was lost.
2.) The region is wracked by extreme climate: periods of draught are followed by months of torrential rain...meaning any planted seeds will be washed away and/or scorched.
3.) This has meant that there is only one harvest per year, leading to a time period after the stores of grain run out known as “The Hunger Gap” -- the time each year where there’s just no food.
Here’s where you come in.
When you donate to sponsor a farmer, you help support the training and resources that the eager local villagers need in order to learn new farming techniques. This will result in two harvests per year, ending those months of starvation for families in this region.
Your donation will not only help support the training of the farmers, but will also help support a system of irrigation and dikes, which make that second harvest possible in a region with weather extremes like South Sudan.
Having a stable food supply is a critical step towards financial and political stability in this fragile region. Your donation makes a world of difference.