Gov’t told to invest in agriculture
A senior government official has faulted the country’s administration for failing to promote agriculture.
The Minister of Trade, Kuol Athian Mawien, who is also a member of the ruling Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM), said that South Sudan has the potential of feeding neighbouring countries if it had embraced agriculture.
“We must question ourselves why there is a food shortage in the country even though we have ample resources.
“We have a large number of young people who are capable of working in the agricultural sector but cannot because of the prevailing circumstances (insecurity).
“We have not taken it upon ourselves since independence to support agriculture in the country, which happens to be one of the top countries’ visions,” Athian remarked.
Need to act
Athian who was speaking in Juba said that the founding fathers like the late John Garang’ had the vision to promote agriculture.
“It was part of our commitment to our residents that we would develop agriculture in the areas, and our late leader, Dr John Garang, indicated we would utilise oil money to do so.”
The minister further stated that the government had failed to infuse funds into the agricultural bank that was supposed to grant loans to farmers to increase food production in the country.
Athian said commercialised farming requires the use of modern farm implements, and he emphasised the need for capital.
Some of the hindrances that farmers are facing, said Athian, include poor road network. He advised the government to open up railway lines and tarmack roads to link farmers in the rural areas with the ready market in the metropolis.
“We have everything here, we have fertile, large land; and we have one of the longest rivers across which we can [use] to produce maize, peanuts, sorghum, and other crops,” he said.
Due to instability along a few highways in the area, farmers always face difficulties transporting their little products to far-flung markets to make a small profit.
Athian said that it is now time for the country to learn from its mistakes and transform obstacles into opportunities, so that people may focus on agriculture and produce more food rather than relying on imported food.
