Over 40 Kajo-Keji farmers tipped on self-reliance in agriculture

January 30, 2022 (KAJO-KEJI) – A two-day training concluded with calls for self-reliance among farmers in Kajo-Kejo County of Central Equatoria State.

The training, organized by Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation (CEPO) under the Strengthening Conflict and Gender Sensitive Community Resilience (SCCR) project, attracted 41 farmers from the various payams of the county.

Kenyi Nason Felix, a field officer with CEPO, said the two-day training aimed at empowering the women and girls under the farming for peace initiative.

“Without farming, peace cannot prevail in our communities,” said Kenyi.

“The project impact is to contribute to gender equality, empower women and girls to promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies,” he added.

Wani Sylvano Yokwe, a farmer, said he acquired skills for peace building, peaceful co-existence and mediation systems during the two-day training.

He cited climate change as a hindrance to farming practices in the county.

Agnes Diiko, a vegetarian grower, said learnt self-reliance at the training.

She, however, urged CEPO to regularly train them on best farming practice.

“CEPO should organize refresher trainings so that we do not completely forget about what we learned during the two-day training,” stressed Diiko.

The project, funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), is mainly targeting refugees, host and migrating communities in South Sudan and Uganda.

The greater Yei region, including Lainya, Morobo and Kajo-Keji counties are known for their conducive farming weather and fertile soils for agriculture.

Despite the huge potentials, agriculture in South Sudan largely remains at subsistence level with average field sizes of just two feddans per household.

(ST)