South Sudan launches ambitious agriculture reform agenda

JUBA, Feb. 4– South Sudan’s agriculture ministry has announced
numerous ambitious agricultural development strategies seeking to enhance
food production and curb severe food insecurity in the world’s youngest
nation.

Under the plans, the government would embark on initiatives seeking to
support research, access to financing, infrastructure development, review
of land policies and enhancing public-private sector partnership, Onyoti
Adigo, Agriculture and Food Security Minister said on Thursday during a
three-day conference in Juba. He added that the government would support
the formation of farmers unions, revive cooperatives across the country and
also roll out nationwide farmer-education initiative in a bid to improve
their knowledge on commercial farming and modern food process techniques to
reduce post-harvest wastage. “Key to achieving agriculture transformation
in the country is raising productively level in the farms, driving the
revolution in productivity, mechanization and improving farm management
techniques based on research and adaption of hybrid varieties of maize and
rice,” Adigo said.

According to Adigo, agriculture constitutes 80 percent of people’s
livelihoods in South Sudan, and it also contributes 36 percent of South
Sudan’s non-oil gross domestic production, but this has been hampered by
conflict, inadequate research facilities, and poor infrastructure among
others.The UN and other aid agencies have warned that at least 1.5 million
South Sudanese could face famine as the East African nation enters what has
been described as the worst lean season in history between January and
March. Adigo said that to achieve the set targets, South Sudan will have to
double its efforts to bring peace and stability in the country to enable
farmers to return to their home and revive agriculture. “There is great
opportunity for us to change the narrative for us from being a hunger prone
country to ending hunger in our country. What is required is sustained
partnership and strong political commitment to leverage agriculture
production,” the official said. – XINHUA