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South Sudan expects improved food production despite conflict

Xinhua, August 12, 2016 Adjust font size:

South Sudan expects to improve its food production this year to cover up the wide food deficit that has left more than 4.8 million people food insecure, an official said on Thursday.

The Undersecretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Cooperatives, Udo Mathew, told Xinhua that despite experiencing hunger in some parts of the country due to drought and conflict, they expected an improved harvest this rainy season.

"In some places there is improvement in food security especially during this rainy period from July to this time. In some places you find there is reduction in food availability due to several factors like drought," Mathew said.

He said in 2013 the government plan was to produce 1.5 million metric tons of produce but that was unfortunately affected by the political crisis.

"And now in our Comprehensive Agricultural Master Plan, our intention was to increase production level to the proposed 2.5 million tons of produce," Mathew revealed.

The civil conflict in South Sudan since late 2013 has killed tens of thousands and displaced more than two million people from their homes. And there was renewed fighting in early July between troops loyal to ousted Vice President Riek Machar and those led by President Salva Kiir.

Mathew said the recent crisis is definitely going to have an effect on food security this year.

"Our plan is at least to expand earlier production. This is being done by the government by distributing 1,000 tractors to all the 28 states. And there is production going on in some states especially in areas where insecurity is mild," he disclosed.

He added that Juba officials had told local authorities in the states to encourage the ongoing production.

He also said that in a bid to ensure food security at households they planned to recruit annually over 503 agricultural extension workers to help boost production.

"We have technicians but they aren't enough. Our plan was to train 503 extension workers annually," he said. Endit