An economic approach to production; little–known at grassroots level
2008 - 2013. Gok Akong village, Rumbek area, Lakes State, South Sudan.
Food production during rainy season, within a cooperation of 100 members – 1200 beneficiairies. Alluvial soils.
The members of the cooperation have cultivated 40 ha by themselves and exceptionally paid local manpower, to clean, to plough and to sow an extra land of 40 ha. It was usual for them to call on outside workers.
Unfortunately the rainy season was wetter than usual, producing a huge amount of weed on all 80 ha.
TOTAL Exploration & Production South Sudan was interested in running programmes with this community within the framework of its social responsability policy.
There was neither enough manpower within the cooperative to manage the 80 ha that were full of weed nor enough money in their cashbox to pay external manpower to help.
The cooperative was able to manage only 40 ha by itself, and was to lose the other 40 ha cultivated. The loss was estimated at 8000 USD.