Poor roads infrastructure in E. Equatoria hamper development

May 19, 2010 (MAGWI) — Bad roads and poor infrastructure are the main obstacle to the development in Magwi County, Eastern Equatoria State says elected Member of Parliament Hon. Peter Otim.

The development activities being hindered include key agriculture services. This is the assessment of Magwi Payam a Member of Parliament elect, Peter Otim, speaking to the press in Torit today.

Most feeder roads in Eastern Equatoria are full of potholes.

Mr. Otim said Magwi could be the food basket of Eastern Equatoria, Southern Sudan and Sudan at large but it lacks roads linking the area to towns like the state capital Torit or to the Southern Sudan capital Juba to help the farmers transport their products to market their agricultural inputs.

The MP added that better roads would bridge the gap between farmers and consumers and open up means to rapidly boost the development of the state.

Otim calls upon the state government to do more to help the county inhabitants to let them exploit its God given resources as a means to fight poverty in the state.

Eastern Equatoria is under hunger threats since last year and Magwi County produces enough food to feed the state, but farmers lack good to transport their produce to the market due to the deplorable condition of the roads’ network in the region since the signing of the comprehensive peace agreement or CPA in the country.

Mr. Otim stressed that, farmers need adequate seeds and tools in order to foster food production; he asked the state ministry of agriculture to join hands with the county authority in order to aid the community out of the situation they are undergoing.

He noted that Magwi County would rise to full development if the government improved roads and established health facilities in the area to improve the lives of its residents.

(ST)