By Awan Achiek and editorial team
South Sudan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Cooperative and Rural Development says it is planning to distribute farm inputs to farmers across the country to enable farmers prepare for the upcoming rainy season expected in May.
The ministers of Agriculture and Finance met Friday to try and fine ways of assisting farmers to increase agricultural productivity across South Sudan.
Speaking to the press in Juba today after the meeting, the Undersecretary in charge of agriculture, cooperatives and rural development, Mathew Gordon Udo says the World Bank was in a position to help the agriculture ministry to implement the project.
“The Ministry of Agriculture is at an advantage point because recently the ministry concluded an agreement with the World Bank, the ministry of agriculture is one of the institutions which the World Bank is ready to support. The ministry of agriculture should take that opportunity and try to present their requirements to the World Bank so that they can take it as a priority to be implemented.” Under Secretary for agriculture Mathew Gordon Udo said.
The ministry says it is planning to distribute seeds and other farm tools across the country.
“We already planned for distribution of inputs to farmers in all the states. Then even provision of fuel to the farming groups and the lubricants as well as visiting all the key national schemes to see the preparations that we have made so far. But unfortunately getting resources from the ministry of finance was not in place but this does not prevent us.” Ministry of agriculture undersecretary Mathew Gordon Udo expressed.
A call to prioritise agriculture
Chairperson of South Sudan National Youth, Gola Boyoi Gola/Photo by Awan
The Chairperson of South Sudan National Youth, Gola Boyoi Gola, has advised South Sudanese to engage in agriculture to prevent poverty and help recover the country’s economy.
“We should embrace agriculture instead of depending entirely on oil; we want to encourage South Sudanese to engage in agriculture,” Boyoi said in an interview on Friday.
The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) assessment this year warns that more seven million people will face severe acute hunger at the height of the lean season in July, while 1.4 million children will be acutely malnourished.
Boyoi said his union is working on projects aimed at supporting agricultural activities in the country.
“Our intention is to promote farming and encourage the young people or the entire country to embark on agriculture. We have a very big farm in Renk and we intend to extend it to other states,” he said.
Since 2005, agriculture was severely neglected despite the huge agricultural potential in South Sudan.
In 2015, President Kiir donated 1,000 tractors to the states to implement his pledge of improving and boosting food security but many of the tractors were reportedly personalised by state governors and other government officials.
South Sudan largely depends on food imports from its neighbours such as Uganda, Kenya and Sudan.
