Over 1 million South Sudanese face food shortages – minister

September 29, 2011 (JUBA/KAMPALA) – 1.3 million South Sudanese, mainly from Jonglei and Upper Nile states, have insufficient food supplies this year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry told parliament in the capital, Juba on Wednesday.

Presenting the food shortage report to parliament, was Betty Achan Ogwaro, the minister of agriculture and forestry. She blamed the food shortage on blockades on the North Sudan border during the build-up to 9 July, when South Sudan declared its independence.

Ogwaro said the Rapid Crop Assessment carried out in August showed that country was likely to produce 420,000-500,000MT of food this year – half the required amount. Also, that only 4 per cent of South Sudan’s potential agricultural land is being used accordingly.

Contributing factors, she said, are the surge in population due to returnees and increased fuel prices.

Ogwaro said that Upper Nile and Jonglei states have been “severely affected” by the food shortages because they do not have practicable road systems.

Inflation officially hit 57.1% in South Sudan in August partly due to increased food costs.

Insecurity has meant many people in these states have been displaced, making farming difficult. In April alone 3,000 people were displaced by cattle rustling incidents in Jonglei. . In July 10,000 people in Upper Nile were displaced by conflict between the Shilluk community and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army.

A significant proportion of South Sudan’s goods are flown in from neighbouring countries at great cost. This will continue until infrastructure improvements provide South Sudan with the capacity to produce more of its own, and to import more economically.

(ST)