HHow did your interest in Sudan start?
I was first made aware of south Sudan’s troubles through Lady Caroline Cox, a Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords in London, England. She took me to Sudan in a “Slave Redemption” trip which revealed to me the horrors of 20th century slavery – a reality I was almost unwilling to accept. We went on four subsequent trips, taking journalists both international and Canadian with us.
Was it risky?
Yes. We were in combat areas, and had a few close calls, but most often
we travelled with SPLA soldiers who acted as guards. We slept in the open,
or sometimes in tents, and the guards slept at the foot of our beds. We
were often on the spot within a few days after the slave raids from the
north, and witnessed death and destruction in many villages.
Why are you not now “Freeing Slaves”?
Certainly the potential for fraud existed. On my fourth trip to free slaves I detected what I thought might be fraud by one southern Sudanese leader. He appeared to be having peasants from the south posing as slaves and given ‘stories’ to tell.
I asked the leadership of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement to investigate. They found it was true and discouraged further slave redemption activity. Although I had taken a fifth successful slave redemption trip, we were working with different people. But I immediately halted further ‘Slave Redemption’ trips, even though thousands of genuine slaves were still in chattel servitude in the north of Sudan. One of those involved in the fraud finally confessed his part in the fraud to Dr. Samson Kwaje, (new deceased) Minister of Information in south Sudan. Dr. Kwaje personally told me about the man who had confessed to being complicit in the fraud.
Have you wasted money on these “false” slaves?
We believe that we were not caught in the fraud. Our subsequent “slave Redemption” trips did not involve the particular leader we suspected. Several subsequent trips we had planned for slave redemption also did not happen. It seemed to us to be providential. The fraud was just developing during that period. Those planned trips were with agents we trusted who were retrieving the slaves from the north, but they just did not happen. An article in a Canadian newsmagazine in which covered a trip by another agency which freed over 1,000 slaves in one operation made me to realize that logistically, that would not have been possible. I felt they were probably duped, even with the presence of the press.
What made you change your activity in Sudan?
Mr. Steven Wondu, then representative from Southern Sudan to Canada, the USA and the United Nations suggested I become involved in development. Between the two of us, we designed what is now known as the Savannah Farmers Cooperative (SFC.) This was to establish large mechanized farms for mass food production. There are still about three million people living on the edge of starvation (2010.) Traditional hand-hoeing and planting cannot catch up to the need. Many millions have no resources to recommence their lives on their traditional land.
How will these farms benefit the southern Sudanese?
We have been leased over 100,000 acres of rich agricultural land which needs basic clearing before farming can expand into mass farms. The farms will produce thousands of acres of food, such as maize (corn), sorghum, millet, beans, ground nuts, cassava, highland rice and other grains. This will be made available for local sale to non-government agencies (NGOs) which supply food for emergency feeding at costs considerably less than that imported and flown or shipped in from around the world. Such emergency feeding is an extremely costly operation and a logistical nightmare.
What about the struggling farmers with just a few acres?
One of our most important operations is to assist poverty-bound farmers with one or two acres, to increase their acreage to up to 25 acres. We offer the services of our drivers, tractors and ploughs to work their land provided they clear it adequately. A nominal fee is charged to cover fuel and wages only. At this time (Jan. 2011) we have had applications from more than 340 small farmers for our help. There are some great success stories. This process has begun to break the ‘dependency syndrome’ which has gripped a population which has depended on emergency feeding programs for up to twenty years. Dignity and self-reliance are being restored.
Are you doing emergency feeding?
Yes and no. Although we fully realize the need for agencies doing emergency feeding, we feel that future food security must also figure into the plans in addressing the food deficit. The longer emergency feeding takes place, the more the ‘dependency syndrome’ will be deeply ingrained. By our starting this now, the more quickly the people of Southern Sudan will have their dignity restored as they become self-dependent. We are the largest agency by far addressing the long-range development of food resources.
At the same time, when we see a family or community in critical need, we do distribute limited help through until they can begin their own small harvests.
Is no one else is growing food in Southern Sudan?
Yes, many small farmers have returned to their traditional lands. But
they are mainly using hand tools. Some oxen are being brought in to plough.
This allows for subsistence living only. The need for food far out measures
the capability of the few who have been able to re-settle since the CPA
in January 9, 2004. Massive farms are essential to kick-start the economy.
These farms will spin off new agriculturally based enterprises.
Are there no other large farms in southern Sudan?
Yes! Many small farmers have returned to their traditional lands. But they are mainly using hand tools. Some oxen are being brought in to plough. This allows for subsistence living only. The need for food far out-measures the capability of the few who have been able to re-settle since the CPA in January 9, 2005.
We know of some small farms (100 acres or so) run by non-Sudanese which have had limited success and good press. Massive farms are essential to kick-start the economy. These farms will spin off new agriculturally based enterprises. Thus, our plan is to build farms with thousands of acres, with out-growers producing cumulative thousands of acres as well.
There was one South African group which planned on 700 acres on the Maridi road outside Yei, but it has failed.
While Cal Bombay was still with 100 Huntley Street, tractors were given to three local communities (Torit, Mundri and Liwolo.) As far as we know, they continue to produce crops but we have not made them to be responsible to SFC and do not know their statistics.
How many farms does the Savannah Farmers Cooperative have in
Sudan?
We began with four farms, all under 100 acres. Logobero , outside Yei, haas been closed permanently because of corruption. Moje north/east of Lainya never really got started, again because of corruption. Morobo , half way between Uganda border and Yei, is in operation still but will be converted into a centre to provide services to small farmers wanting to expand their fields from small to larger acreages. Romogi, on the outskirts of Kajokeji has been closed due to financial non-viability.
One small farm still operates in Mogiri and is productive because of good management and hard work. That Manager of that farm will be transferred to a new farm being developed on the 100,000 acres we have leased. Incidentally, there is a small lake in the middle of the 100,000 acres which has never been known to dry up. Citric and other fruit farms are planned for around that lake in the future.
As of June 2006, we have begun a new farm at Bori, not far from Kajokeji. Crops have been so large we have been forced into rapid growth of storage and processing plants as well as housing for staff and workers.
Others large farms are in the planning stage. These will be mass farms up to 2,000 acres each. The second will begin as soon as our D6H Caterpillar bulldozers are on site to begin clearing land – no later than Jan. 2011.
What does it cost to launch a new SFC farm?
We have two areas of accounting. One is for the operational expenses for the actual working of the farm. The other is for capitol development which includes buildings, land-clearing and facility infrastructure.
It costs approximately $200,000 to get a new farm up and running. This includes the initial establishment of a compound, clearing of no less than 100 acres, tractors and implements, and salaries for the first eighteen months of operation – after which it is expected they will be operationally self-supporting under the regulations of the SFC.
None has reached 500 acres at this point. Every year more land is cleared and the acreage increases. As the acreage increases, so does their financial foundation. Most of the farms have the potential of eventually 2,000 acres. Some of the SFC farms provide ploughing, harrowing, planting and cultivating under contract to small land-holders, or to government agricultural schools or enterprises.
What support facilities are needed?
Because of the increase in crops we have been forced into rapid development of storage and processing facilities. One large warehouse has to be supplemented by another much larger warehouse. Since there has never been a commercial/industrial grinding mill ever in Southern Sudan, we are building the first of its kind currently. We have to build a properly equipped four-bay workshop for repairs and maintenance of our many tractors, vehicles, trucks and bulldozers. Repairing in the rain is no longer an option!
Large old-fashioned corn cribs are being constructed at the fields and shellers provided before the grains are transported to the central facility at Bori.
Housing and offices are being built at the Bori compound to accommodate volunteer farmers and mechanics from Canada.
Who owns the SFC farms?
They are Cooperative farms. No one person or group ‘owns’ them. It is expected that the profits from the farms will be rolled back into further development, either the farm making the profit, or through the Board of Directors, for the opening of new farms. At this point, every farm is still developing toward the target of expenditures being less than the income from produce and contracts with out- growers.
Cal Bombay Ministries retains ownership of all capital equipment which is “on loan” to the Savannah Farmers Cooperative. This includes all tractors, ancillary equipment, bulldozers, generators and tools.
As the SFC grows and becomes more efficient, it will, through its future membership, take on more responsibility for major decisions at Annual General Meetings called by the Board of Directors of the SFC.
Who provides overall management?
Mr. Steven Wondu, a CPA and Auditor General of South Sudan, is Chairman of the Board of Directors of the SFC. Rev. Cal Bombay is the Deputy Chairman of the Board. Mr. Zamba Duku, former Speaker of the House of the Legislature of Central Equatoria has been hired full time by Cal Bombay Ministries as the Managing Director of the SFC farms. The other members of the Board of Directors are:
The Hon. Manase Lomole Waya, Deputy Governor of Central Equatoria State and Minister of Agriculture.
His Excellency, Mr. Muki Batali, Commissioner of Kajokeji County.
Mr. Ben Yengi, oft decorated humanitarian and Head of an NGO in Sudan.
Cal Bombay Ministries provides the support for the development of these farms and monitors all the farms through reports submitted to CBM, and through constant contact with the Bank in Uganda which handles all the SFC farm accounts. The slow introduction of internet café services is now making this more efficient.
Do you (Cal Bombay) still go to Sudan?
Yes. I take at least two trips a year to monitor crops, fields, manager’s accomplishments, as well as accounts and to sit with the Board of Directors of the SFC in our regular meetings. I am Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors. Cal Bombay is signatory to all accounts having to do with both the SFC and CBM.
Do you recieve any government support?
At this point, (Dec. 2010) we have received no government support, and are rather puzzled by that fact. It is well known that the SFC is the most viable and well-managed agricultural initiative in Southern Sudan. We are looking for a change in this situation in 2011.
We do have the support of various corporations and foundations. There have been some large donations from individuals, some cumulatively to more than $200,000.00. The main source of funding comes from individual Canadian who give significant donations as well as monthly pre-authorized gifts to this ministry.
