South Sudan seeks alternatives to reduce food prices
By Ngor Arol Garang
November 26, 2009 (MALAKAL) — The government of Southern Sudan on Thursday said seeking alternatives to reducing soaring food prices in the region.
Foods prices in Southern Sudan are increasing indefinitely in the region with local officials attributing this increase to too much dependency on relief aid.
However, other blame it on climate change as main cause of insufficient food production in agriculture oriented communities in Western Equatoria, West and Northern Upper Nile, Eastern Equatoria and some parts of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State such as Aweil where rice plantation has been affected by poor rainfalls this year.
John Aleu, senior agronomist at the government of Southern Sudan ministry of Agriculture and forestry, said it is true that change in climate have led to a reduction in food production across the region.
The official further said some people in southern Sudan are to be blamed because majority are indulged in doing unnecessary activities mostly drinking and playing games without sparing time for farming during rainy season.
“We distribute sufficient farming implements to each of the ten southern states but people do not make use of these freely given planting materials instead sold them to farmers from Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda , Kenya by citizens from states bordering these countries.”
“This is why food prices have increased leading to severe food shortage in the region hence prompted government of Southern Sudan to consider purchasing grains early this as alternative to avoid starvation,” he stressed.
He said that southerners are becoming addicted to surviving on relief foods abandoning growing crops. He further reaffirmed the region is entirely depending on imports from neighboring countries.
The Southern Sudan is seriously buying food from Uganda and Kenyan, he said
Is it difficult to plant cassava being imported to the region at higher price, he posed, he commenting that since the beginning of the year, food prices in Juba have remained high with sellers citing increase in transport costs coupled with a reduction in food production.
A kilogram of maize floor in Kampala markets, currently costs between 1300 to 500, Ugandan Shilling, rice between 2300 to 2500 Ugandan Shilling, pumpkin price is between 2000 and 2500 Ugandan Shilling and a kilogram of onions costing between USh2000 and USh3000. In Juba and other parts of the South, the buying price doubles the selling price, he said.
Notwithstanding lack of transparency in oil shares with the national government, coupled with inconsistency in transfer of the share too, the southern Sudan government is determined to rehabilitating major roads linking rural areas with urban towns and state to facilitate quick transportation of food to urban areas.
Besides this measure, the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly can legislate a law that discourages playing games at working hours as well as law that gives officials more time for cultivation during planting seasons.
“If these laws are legislated and implemented, I tell you south Sudan can be a bread basket for Africa and world at large,” he said.
(ST)
Dinka Dominated SPLA
South Sudan seeks alternatives to reduce food prices
I did said that the SPLA/M have a power to veto stupid bill. now the veto lam party now they are loser what ashame to bashir agencies death to them they don’t have room here in south this is not 1990s they will fail behind the doom darkness and they will never be foregive for their wicked evil oaf activities behind the south anymore
death to them
Dinka Boy
South Sudan seeks alternatives to reduce food prices
We high population density without job,so it is the good idea that those who are selling their goods must sell them with the reasonable and relevant prices. The Governmnet have right to stop that price discrimantion in the entire country.
Thanks
Time1
South Sudan seeks alternatives to reduce food prices
The onyl way to reduce food prices is number one by producing more food inside southsudan, southsudan is a fertile land blessed with agricultural land but the GOSS has not done enough to encourage farming anf promote domestic food productions unfortunately.
Also southsudan has rivers criss-crossing into every state, so they do not really need rains even though most areas have alot of rains but the areas with no rain can use the water from the river but they need to be trained and supported on how to use the modern arrigation system they is to take water fromt he rivers and lakes for agriculture use, also how to make small channels to sotre water for farming, south sudan has both rain and rivers, so all this draught is nonsense, the people just have no skills on how to uilize the riover waters and to cultivate the land promerly that is the main problem but not lack of rain or water.
Look at Egypt is is almost 90% desert with no many rivers or frequent rain like south sudan but they produce enough food just with river waters and proper agricultural methods with training and financial backings to their farmers, also the same with north sudan they currently produce enough food all from irrigation of river water .
So the government has to have a clear plan first then discuss how to implement this plan stated with simple approach with minimal costs.
GOSS can also give priority to domestic farmer or investors who want to invest in farming, give them good land and financial backings but with conditions that the produce enough food for domestic consumption.
Time for Dr Samnson Kwaje the agriculture minister to get serious about food security in southsudan a land bless with agricultural land, what is he really doing in his minister for a whole years? has he been planning anything really?
it will be a big shame to starve when you have all the opportunity to produce food.
Time1
South Sudan seeks alternatives to reduce food prices
There is a wise saying that
Teach the man how to catch his own fish, but not to give him the Fish. This is what south sudan is lacking.
BUSTA 2
South Sudan seeks alternatives to reduce food prices
No alternatives,
As long as we have food lovers among us, there is no alternatives to reduce food prices due to the fact that, they ate alot food.
The only alternatives is, let the IDPs return to their homes. I don’t see the reason why there is still IDPs in South Sudan!!
Brother in Christ,
Busta 2
Arumo Dwong
South Sudan seeks alternatives to reduce food prices
The government should buy more tractors and other agricultural tool, seeds and enourage people to plant more food instead of goind and buying food from uganda. What happened to the funds for agricultural Development? did it go into kiirs pockets for buying houses in Sweden?
Gabriel Adupa
South Sudan seeks alternatives to reduce food prices
The current situation of food shortage in Southern Sudan should be blamed on two conditions:
Reliance of traditional methods of food production is one of the major setback in the economy of southern Sudan. Although the Government of southern Sudan (GOSS) is trying to change this conditions, effort in soome of the states to encourage people to emback on commercial production is lacking. The government’s ministry of agriculture does not make us of the available resources that can help in food production in the country. For instance, take a ride to Luri; 15kms towards Mundri road. There you will find new tractors that are rotting for the last two years without been made to use. Should we then blame the President that he is unable to support food production effort in the region? Two years ago, the ministry of Eastern Equatoria State received 10 tractors from GOSS meant for each County to buzz food production. Suprisingly, the tractors were given to “Good Politicians” as rewards to those “Good Politicians” to the governor of the state.
The most important issue that hinders food production in the region is the issue of insecurity. Tribal feuds and militias fighting proxy wars in states like Jongolei, Upper Line among others has created unnecessary movement of the popualtion making food production less of a priority compare to life.
It is important also to understand that while our methods of agricultural production is dependant on rain, the climatic changes especially in the last two years has affected Eastern Equatoria State. For example, in the Greater Kapoeta, effort to plant crops have failed due to lack of rainfall.
There is need for the goverment to adopt water harvesting for irrigation. Rainy water go to waste during wet season. We need to tap that so that we don’t rely on rain most of the time. Machinery that are provided by the government should be made into use rather than make such useless or for political rewards as it happens in Eastern Equatoria State.
Lotaukou
Daniel Khot Duoth
South Sudan seeks alternatives to reduce food prices
I am strongly endorsing the government policy for eliminating food price in South Sudan. In fact, the food price is always soaring up every day while there is no enough money within our society as well. For instance, the people of South are not capable to support themselves too. I hope that, they have nothing to buy an expensive food with in the country. So, it is a better ideas for government to reduce food price and keep things down until people get enough financial. However, everyone knows that the government is still young to provide civilians’ with their needs. I think that, it is a fantastic idea to reduce food price and make everything easy for all the people in the country. Again, we are not capable to promote food price now a day and will have to wait a little bit for the next future. For that case, the government has to evaluate country policy and watch carefully into market policy. By Daniel Khoat Duoth