Cultivating a Greener Future: Gloria’s Seedling Transformation

CENTRAL EQUATORIA STATE, SOUTH SUDAN – Farmer and university student Gloria Hibba Juma found the answer to her seedling production challenges at the EWS-KT learning farm in Juba. This is her story.

I am a 26-year-old student at the University of Juba’s School of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies. I have also been in the vegetable production business for the past 4 years, and I often dedicate my school vacations to vegetable production. However, like many local farmers, I faced many challenges raising quality seedlings. My traditional methods of relying on ground nurseries and plastic trays were inefficient and unsustainable.

My seedling production was affected by many problems: 

• Little knowledge about quality seeds, and seed waste from poor planning 
• High rates of seedling loss due to soil-borne diseases, heavy rains, and constant pest attacks 
• The growing, visible issue of plastic pollution from discarded trays and plastic pots 

Those constraints limited my profitability and environmental stewardship.

My key learning moment arrived during a field visit with my classmates to the East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation (EWS-KT) learning farm located on the University of Juba campus. Driven by my passion for vegetable production, I paid close attention to the practical demonstrations on production planning and seedling production. It was then that I was introduced to a simple yet innovative technique: the use of biodegradable leaf pots made from locally available materials like mango and banana leaves. This was an immediate solution to my biggest environmental challenge. 

I also learned about choosing quality seeds with high germination rates, the use of sterilized soil to avoid diseases, and how to protect my seedlings from pests and damaging weather events by keeping the seedlings off the ground and in a covered area. 

These techniques not only reduced production costs and minimized disease spread but also eliminated my reliance on non-biodegradable plastics during seedling production. 

The vegetable production learning farm on the University of Juba campus is a joint initiative between the university and East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation. EWS-KT staff hold training sessions and educational workshops at the learning farm for students, farmers, and agriculture sector professionals.