CENTRAL EQUATORIA – In South Sudan, farmers and cattle keepers often compete for scarce food and water resources. In November, when grazing animals destroyed six hectares of farmland in Rokon, familiar tensions rose yet again.

With the onset of the dry season making grazing spots fewer and farther between, community leaders were concerned about the risk of further disagreements and grievances that could potentially lead to violent confrontations. 

What, they wondered, can be done to avoid such incidents?

Some 90 people – including women, elders and youth – from both farmers and pastoralists were brought together by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in partnership with the Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative, to discuss, find common ground and work on solutions to allow the communities to live in harmony.

"Our communities have always been connected," said Gabriel Agoko, a cattle camp chief. "We don't want problems; we just want to live peacefully.”

This spirit of cooperation was reciprocated by farmers, including Monika Jukudu Boma Aroma, who suggested that cattle keepers should pay compensation for any damage their animals cause to their land.

Her proposal was well received by cattle keepers in attendance, who took the opportunity to apologize for previous incidents when unsupervised specimens of the bovine family have been caught munching or treading on agricultural products grown by farmers intending to consume or sell them.

"As you can see, coming together to talk makes a big difference," said Lius Joseph Lisas, a local Head Chief. "Problems that seemed too big to solve now feel manageable because we could break them down into smaller parts and discuss them together."

The meeting concluded with the adoption of a series of new, clear and mutually agreed-on community rules, intended to prevent further incidents where crops, animals, properties or people are damaged or injured.