Sudan shows readiness to revitalize agro-industry in Nzara

September 16, 2010 (NZARA, WES) – Federal Minister of Agriculture in the Government of National Unity (GoNU), Abdalahim Ismail Mutafi, has said that “GoNU is ready to revitalize the historical Agro Industrial Complex in Nzara County in Western Equatoria State.”

He made the remark during his official tour to Southern Sudan with first stop in Western Equatoria. The Federal Minister and delegation were warmly received by Col Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro, governor of Western Equatoria state. Mutafi said that his “mission to Western Equatoria is in response to two invitations by the state government to come to WES as good start with Industrialized Agriculture.”

Addressing the state Council of Ministers, Mutafi reiterated his position as the Federal Minister of agriculture to continue supporting all the states of Sudan even after the referendum. He added that, “agriculture is the backbone of the World’s economy,” pledging to support WES as it is an Agriculture-rich state. He promised to supply Western Equatoria with seeds, fertilizers, machineries and capacity building to all staffs to effectively run the agro-complex.

The minister stated that his coming was to exchange ideas with the state on where to maximize its needs and more specially shifting from “subsidized farming to commercialized farming.” The Federal Minister promised to invest more in the ginning factory at the Nzara Complex, and oil refinery factory and also bring foreign investors from Japan and other countries to Western Equatoria State. He brought about 250 different seedlings of Mangoes, Bananas, Gister (Grape fruit) to be tested in the area promising to send quality seeds to the state.

However, he (Mutafi) further revealed that his Ministry has donated over 55 tractors to be distributed to all the ten states in Southern Sudan as part of his contribution for local farmers “to boost their cultivations to produce surplus food .”

Governor Bakosoro assured his important guest that, “the people of WES are hardworking people only insecurity of the LRA and Ambororo has displaced competent farmers from their areas causing food insecurity in the state.”

He (Bakosoro) however said, “if support is given to the farmers with emphasis on food security, more food will be produced from the state that will be able to feed Southern Sudan and neighboring countries.”

In addition, the State Minister of agriculture in Western Equatoria, Charles Yore pointed out that, “farmers in WES are ready to shift from subsidized farming to commercial farming, however some constrains continue to hinder farmers.”

Yore asserted that “some of setbacks are, lack of agriculture inputs for the farmers, no pesticides to keep seeds safe, machinery, no good marketing opportunities, processing facilities, feeder roads to transport in case farmers produce in bulk, and capacity trainings to local farmers especially in modernized agriculture.”

Yore also added that, “WES has a number of teak plantations which are illegally processed by pirates as such the state ministry of agriculture is looking for investors in teak plantation as the state plans to plant trees.”

In response Mutafi pledged to sponsor 10 students to building their capacity in the field agriculture to gain the trainings and come back to put into practice in the state, he also promised to send technical personnel and to send chemicals for weeding

Nzara agro Industrial Complex was started in 1943 during the British colonial period by the British colonial Director of Agriculture Mr. Tothill with the name the “Zande Scheme”.

The Construction and Establishment of the industry and opening of the whole project was officially done in 1953 with all factories in full production of Clothes, oil, Jiggery Sugar, and cash crops, like, Coffee, Beans, Dura, simsim and poultry amongst others that provided excellent revenue to the complex.

After the Match of attempted Coup d’état of 1955, part of the complex was transferred to Northern Sudan and continued up to 1990 with partial productions.

The Complex had over 3000 workers, with about 700 Feddans of coffee plantation which were burnt during the war, 3000 Feddans of Palm oil Plantations which still exist today, textile mills like weaving and spinning all finished, saw and oil mills have all collapsed.

However the clear ownership of the Nzara Agro Industrial Complex is not known wither the Government of Sudan or Government of southern Sudan is responsible for the Complex.

(ST)