Jonglei: Twic East Commissioner calls for focus upon agriculture

May 20, 2012 (BOR) – The Commissioner of Twic East County in Jonglei State has called on the residents of the county to tighten their belts and focus upon subsistence crops, in order to tackle the current food crisis.

Commissioner Dau Akoi Jurkuch made his statement at a community ceremony in Wuanglei, Nyuak Payam [district] on Sunday.

There is a worsening food crisis in South Sudan due to insecurity, an influx of refugees and failed crops.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) and Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) have said that “If conflict continues to cause major population displacements and food prices keep rising, the report estimates that the number of people who are severely food-insecure could double.”

The FAO-WFP Crop and Food Security Assessment report shows that for 2012, 4.7 million people in South Sudan will be food-insecure. This is an increase of 1.4 million since last year.

The Governor of Lakes State, which borders Jonglei, on 16 May declared every Friday during this rain season as a half working day at all level in state government institutions, in order for employees to join their respective families in cultivating the land.

(ST)