Warrap launches farming policy

By Ngor Arol Garang

December 21, 2009 (KHARTOUM) –The Warrap State government has this morning on Monday 21, started holding an ambitious farming policy with an aim to transform subsistence farming to commercial in the area.

The Agricultural Transformation Initiative, known as the “La Tueng Puoric” meaning progress in agriculture shape the nation, intends to make Warrap an agriculture-driven State.

The government hopes the area become self-sufficient in food production as well as a major agricultural commodities exporter.

Speaking from Kuajok, Warrap State Capital, Deng Wieu, a Food Security and livelihood coordinator in the state ministry of agriculture, fishery, animal resources and forestry, he said, the initiative is in line with the state Development policy of the state Agriculture ministry Strategic Plan.

The contribution of agriculture to the economy of South Sudan has not in any way been paid attention as it uses to be in the past despite the fact that this sector could be the largest employing sector, he said

In South Sudan, Agricultural production has remained predominantly subsistence, small-scale and largely rain-fed, with very little or no use of farm inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides.

However, Public and private sectors leaders in the southern State of Warrap, led by Governor Tor Deng Mawien, hold a two-day meeting under the auspices of the Warrap farmers Council to discuss the finer details of the agricultural vision and its action plan as part of final preparations before the initiative is officially launched.

Addressing participants during a meeting scheduled to end on Tuesday 22, Governor Tor is reported as saying that the thrust of the initiative is to facilitate the full engagement of public and private sectors in agricultural production.

Similarly, Yol Kuol, trade union leader, during the same meeting, also said Business people in Warrap do not regard agriculture as serious business, but that is part of our history where all have concentrated on trade buying and selling. We want you to understand from today that agriculture is serious and good business, he commends.

He continued to say that they intend to launch large-scale farming because, according to him, said, have enough land in the area. We believe increasing crop yield is more important than sticking to rearing thousand of cattle. If we get these small-scale farmers to transform their activities, we can greatly increase output, he adds.

He said the agricultural initiative was a broad project that also entailed the improvement and commercialization of fisheries and livestock, adding that the sectors had great potential.

Earlier, Deng Wieu, the Food Security and livelihood coordinator and a key person in the preparation of the initiative, told Sudan Tribune that the aim of the initiative was to transform State from subsistence farming to a large scale. He added that major problems limiting production include lack of improved seeds, limited use of fertilizers, inadequate mechanization and low level of irrigation.

However he further said this initiative is the way forward because it already had an action plan that outlined specific areas of investments by both the public and the private sectors.

We have already identified field, fisheries, livestock and infrastructure projects, the costs of each project and the amount of resources needed in the investments, he adds saying that this initiative is almost ready for implementation.

(ST)