Diversification of the South Sudanese economy explored at USAID / GoSS fair
By Toby Collins
November 9, 2011 (LONDON) – A fair promoting South Sudan’s products and potential for future production began on Wednesday in the national capital, Juba.
The vice president, Riek Machar; and the minister of agriculture and forestry, Betty Achan Ogwaro, were amongst those present at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) supported, four day event.
On display was farm equipment and South Sudanese products such as cassava, bamboo, flowers, beeswax, gum Arabic, fruit, vegetables, and dried animal skins.
At the event Ogwaro described agriculture as, “the backbone of the [South Sudanese] economy.”
Machar explained the difficulties faced in Western Equatoria, in the south-west of the country, where profitable mangoes and pineapple are farmed.
Producers are struggling to get them to market. Machar suggested that investment in local fruit preservation facilities would be expedient.
Also attending the fair was USAID deputy mission director Peter Natiello, who said the majority of smallholder farmer produce only enough to support their family but with infrastructure improvements they can become profitable.
South Sudan’s climate and geography give it the potential for a strong agricultural sector, which is currently underdeveloped. According to USAID, it is “helping to develop a commercial domestic seed and fertilizer industry; and by investing in infrastructure, including feeder roads that will help farmers access markets for their products.”
The need for diversification in the South Sudanese economy is pressing; an International Monetary Fund report published in October stated that it depends on oil for 98 percent of its revenue, its output of which will be halved by 2020.
(ST)
Nuerone Mafitabu
Diversification of the South Sudanese economy explored at USAID / GoSS fair
People in juba are unable to use the soil for agriclture even can not allow any one to cultivat in theire state for no reason, they are waiting for ugandan to bring food, since they have money.
It should be must case by the goverment each house sould have a small garden in or out of juba in case one day, food will not come.
Bari are the creater of this problem with good soil around Juba na bari.
Bush
Diversification of the South Sudanese economy explored at USAID / GoSS fair
Stop calling our gum, gum Arabic, OK. If you are addicted to Arabization then stay away from South Sudan affairs. That’s why I called you Khartoum Tribune and you deleted my comment.
okucu pa lotinokwan
Diversification of the South Sudanese economy explored at USAID / GoSS fair
Im very sorry for the remaining states in the among the Ten states who are having very fertile land but still need to be fed with free relief food,please let pull up our stock,otherwise majority will die from hungry.
OKUCU PA LOTINOKWAN
Ajiej
Diversification of the South Sudanese economy explored at USAID / GoSS fair
Dear Okucu,
I have totally agree with you, It seem that in South Sudan everybody is comparing each another while is doing nothing and is claiming that he/she is knowing where to feed his/her family while is keeping begging the Ministers and he/she was telling that he or she knows where to feed his or her family is it in such a way that you keep on begging? It is better for them to cultivate now
Nuerone Mafitabu
Diversification of the South Sudanese economy explored at USAID / GoSS fair
WHO ARE THOSE COLLECTING ROTTEN ONION IN THE RUBBISH?
every day at konyokonyo market,weman and children are in the rubbish collecting the remaning food near the grave yard as you can see in this photo.
It is their daily fild for life.
Baring
Diversification of the South Sudanese economy explored at USAID / GoSS fair
People in Juba are very much willing to caltivate, but there are many reason stop them from doing that. First, Govt. has to make sure that all the maning or expoltive material underground must be remove.Second, There must be a definate land spacifically for agrecalture not for the housing. thirdly, Roard must be safer and security at all area. Tax on agrecalture product should be collect at market
marie
Diversification of the South Sudanese economy explored at USAID / GoSS fair
Mr Nuerone Mafitabu
It is true not everybody in RSS has enough to eat that is why you see some scavenging for food from the trash heaps, but at least it shows some people have more than enough. But there are some places in the South that depend entirely on hand outs and others are starving to death. These places should be of a concern. Juba as a capital comprise of working population not farmers
Good Citizen
Diversification of the South Sudanese economy explored at USAID / GoSS fair
Minister Betty, we need food,food, food, food, in south sudan!
yes, and mechanized commercial farming.increase Agricultural activities at Payam and Boma levels.