Community based on development and its envirommental impact. A case study of accord development activities in Juba area [Sudan]

The objective of the research was to investigate ACORD's use of the local structural set-up of Juba communities in its project to achieve an environmentally sound development. ACORD is an NGO which has initiated what it called an environmentally sound community-Based Development Project. The main component of the project is a partially mechanised agriculture aimed at self-reliant food production with full participation of the local people. Cultivation of large areas which are later distributed to farmers could lead to a number of environmentally negative results such as soil erosion through removal of tree cover. Protective measures needed to be introduced to minimise the problem. Balancing against this danger was the need to provide food to the famine affected expanding displaced population of Juba town as a result of war. ACORD's farming activities have resulted in self-sufficiency in food grains for many. Full participation, however, has not been realised Farmers' preferences on method of planting and type of seeds planted were not fully implemented. As such they still rely on their traditional way of farming using local seeds. Changes of policy and unfulfilled promises has aroused mistrust. Full participation should have come about through the ACORD introduced democratically elected Village Development Committees (VDC). As a point of dialogue. their active participation could have prepared them to run the project after ACORD. This was the original objective of ACORD. Yet the project has not empowered these local structures administratively and financially. They are not even prepared by ACORD for the task ahead through special courses. The environmental safe-guards have not been introduced. Soil consevation measures have been neglected. Conservation tillage and planting of shelter belts as some of these measures remain on paper. Loss of soil fertility through erosion and crop nutrient mining pose a danger to the soil. ACORD is therefore recommended to fully implement its objectives. This include educating VDC to lower s to apprecitae environmental protection. Financial and administrative empowerment are an important pre-requisite