Dike construction, Twic county, Jonglei state

June 7, 2012 (BOR) – The commissioner of Twic East county of Jonglei state, Dau Akoi Jurkuch, has announced the renovation of a 34 km dike as part of a land reclamation project for agricultural use.

Speaking to Sudan Tribune in Bor, Akoi said the low land of Twic East county is close to the river Nile, making it prone to flooding during the rainy season, saying that the construction of a dike is the only way of controlling the flooding, to enable the population to cultivate their farms.

“When we complete the dike, the community will be able to cultivate their fields and the lives of the livestock will also improve,” Akoi added.

He said the County authority, with the help of Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) are working together to construct and renovate the 34km old dike that runs from the southern part of the county northward.

He said the a total of 900,000 SSDG (US$337,000) was raised by the partners for the project.

Akoi called upon the citizens of Twic East, both at home and in the Diaspora to help in completing the remaining 7km of dike on time.

He said there is a fear of flooding this year as the water table in the river Nile has been very high, even before the rainy season began.

Akoi said his County is optimistic that there will be improved agricultural food production this year due to the relative calmness in the County, following the tribal peace accord that was signed last month.

He said farmer groups have opened up large farms, including Rebecca Nyandeng, the wife of late John Garang, who has the largest mechanised farm in the County.

(ST)