South Sudanese youth turn to agriculture to tackle food shortages

To treat nutritional deficiencies due to years of Effects of conflict and climate change, many young people in The landlocked country in Central Africa of South Sudan is turning to crops instead of looking for a livelihood in Oil Extraction.

Although there is a file amount of Proven oil reserves are about 8.3 million people It is in risk of hunger in Country. The country imports 80% of food items From Uganda and Kenya, experts said. In an interview with Anadolu Agency (AA), Joy Ladu, Management director of Ubuntu farms, which deals in Locally grown vegetables, young people urged to do so work hard to reduce country overdependence on Food imports. “When the border shut down last year Because of the strike before truck drivers who used to bring food items From Kenya, food prices have skyrocketed in Country. I realized that many families were like that struggling to get food. This is what made me set up My food farm is here in South Sudan, this will help for us people Don’t suffer and don’t wait for She said, “Imported food.”

Tube Paul, Management director of Green Farms said his attempts to grow crops helped provide food in The oil-rich Upper Nile region region. In 2019, we were able to produce about 6000 tons of Food we supplied local community. for us market I broke down last year Because of political crisis.

South Sudan’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Cole Athean Mawen, said restoring peace and security is possible critical To encourage food production in Country. “we’ve got problem of Food insecurity in South Sudan. We have to blame ourselves for shortage of food in South Sudan while we have many resources. The first The thing we have to put in place It is security. The second thing is good network way but there is no way network in South Sudan to connect up From the countryside to the market added.

Ayii Duang Ayii, the head of He said focus on the business community in South Sudan on Agriculture was necessary to boost the economy development. He said people He forgot about farming and turned all the focus to extraction of oil. he called for Removal various restrictions on Food Products and Request government to encourage investment in Agriculture sector and lending to people Cultivation of crops and vegetables.

South Sudan has a lot of talented areas with Irrigation that can be used for Cultivation of crops. But experts say so in 1999, government in Undivided Sudan’s focus shifted to oil extraction as agricultural production began to decline. According to the World Bank, the annual average growth rate of The agricultural sector between 2000 and 2008 was only 3.6%, just a shadow of 10.8% growth rate in previous decade. A comprehensive land survey conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations via The satellite showed it just 4.5% of The available The land was cultivated when South Sudan became independent in 2011.

Great Reliance on imports of food items Comes in high transport cost who is paired with Inflation, severe food shortages in South Sudan.

with about 98% of government Oil revenue, South Sudan is the world’s most oil-dependent nation.

Earlier this month, South Sudan’s Minister of Finance and Planning Ajak Achoel Lual said they are struggling To pay civil servants’ salaries because the country’s oil revenues were sold off in Progressing. “Now, if I am going to pay salaries, I have to borrow money. This means that the oil is sold in progress,” he said.