Jonglei’s agriculture ministry organises farmers’ forum
June 13, 2014 (BOR) – The agriculture and forestry ministry in Jonglei organised a workshop on Wednesday to sensitise farmers on the importance of utilising the planting season.
The minister of agriculture, Mayen Ngor, who recently returned from a United States tour of various agricultural institutions, sectors and industries officially opened the one-day workshop.
“This workshop came in response to the called from the government of Jonglei state that the farmers and agriculturalists should double their efforts to see to it that this season should be utilized by the Internal displaced people, by the citizens and all farmers of Jonglei state in areas that they could be able to farms”, said the minister.
He however said country would not have been food secure had the mid-December crisis not occurred. The violence that broke out in the country had displaced over a million people and left nearly half of the population at risk of facing a hunger catastrophe.
“With the recent crisis there was displacement of the people. Food security and nutrition will be problems for us, so farmers must work and double their efforts so that they have something for the year as you are aware that Jonglei state is the leading state in crisis”, said Ngor.
“Jonglei state is leading in humanitarian needs but humanitarian needs could not continue will not continue to 2015, so there is a need for us now to continue farming”, he added.
MASSIVE BOOST
The government has already earmarked at least SSP 1 million to assist farmers during the cultivation seasons. CRS has also distributed local seed to citizens in all the counties of the state.
“The local seeds are important because these meet the farmers’needs in term of production, consumption in term of marketing conditions. They are easily accessible, affordable and adapt to the agro-ecological zones”, stressed the minister.
The country’s economy, as in many other developing countries, is heavily dependent on agriculture.
(ST)