Over 600 ex-combatants graduate in Sudan’s Rumbek
By Manyang Mayom
April 8, 2011 (RUMBEK) – South Sudan’s Disarmament Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) program in Rumbek, the capital of Lakes state, presided on Thursday over the graduation of 676 ex-combatants in a ceremony attended by Lakes state government ministers and the United Nation Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) and various units of South Sudan army (SPLA).
The students also received the necessary tools help them with agriculture.
The DDR program in connection with Food Agriculture Organization (FAO), on Thursday also distributed 52 ox-ploughs to ex-combatants in Rumbek East County of Lakes state.
According to FAO consultation Panuel Ederwa FAO is facing difficulties in buying bulls to do with the ox-ploughs they are giving the beneficiaries of the scheme due an increase in prices.
In an auction, a first class bull costs over 2,000 Sudanese pounds and a second class bull 1,000 Sudanese pounds. But second class bulls are not strong enough to cultivate land.
This week, FAO bought 13 bulls for ox-plough as well 25 goats to be given to small businesses.
The DDR program was established to help soldiers who had fought in Sudan’s two-decade civil war between North and South Sudan, which ended in 2005. As part of the deal the South voted to become independent in January and will fully secede in July this year.
(ST)
Bol Deng
Over 600 ex-combatants graduate in Sudan’s Rumbek
The money that they used to but those three bulls should be used instead for purchasing tractors.
This human abuse must be stop because this activity seem painful beyond reasonable doubt.
yes, i do understand that we are still catchoing up because we have been deprived for so long but the used of bull and donkey for human activities is completely an abuse.
Let but equipments for hard jobs. Thanks
marie
Over 600 ex-combatants graduate in Sudan’s Rumbek
I do not think our government or the FAO for that matter has enough fund to buy tractors to all those people who have chosen to indulge in agriculture as their trade of choice, that is why they opted to buying bulls for the ex-combatants.
Donkeys, cattle, goats, sheep are domesticated animals that are supposed to be used for human benefit not the other way round. But when we look at our situation especially in the South, we labour a lot to raise these animals but at the end of the day we do not get any ecomomic benefit from them.
Asians use their animals correctly, for ploughing, for carrying them etc.
If you are into this animal rights stuff, let them the animals go back to the bush and live freely instead of keeping them with you.
mayom maboung marek
Over 600 ex-combatants graduate in Sudan’s Rumbek
Remember, these men and women deserved that support for their sustainable social and economic reintegration.
but it was too much corrupted if one was there in Rumbek.
Bol Deng
Over 600 ex-combatants graduate in Sudan’s Rumbek
Marie,
Now, how many plots can three bulls plough in the state of Rumbek? And do you you think that the plots plough by bulls can produce enough space for cultivation? How long these bulls will plough?
Anyway,the minister of agriculture can afford purchasing more than three tractors for cultivation in the state.
Your assumption is not convincing because you do not know the financial status of ministry of agriculture before concluding that there is no money to buy just three tractors.
Bulls are domestic animals that is something that you should know, they should not be sent to the forest as you said in your comment.
Omoni jr
Over 600 ex-combatants graduate in Sudan’s Rumbek
why is it only done in Dinka-Nuer land?
And they dont do anything to my family members who were participated fully during the war-time. DDR is rubbish and need not to be recognized in our state.
marie
Over 600 ex-combatants graduate in Sudan’s Rumbek
Bol,
Majority of local farmers in South Sudan who are indulged in subsistance farming use local tools to produce enough food for themselves. Those bulls of course would do a better job than using the hands for sure.
Domesticated animals are supposed to be for human benefit, that is why we keep them with us to meet our immediate needs my friend.