Yambio farmers supply over 25 metric tons of maize grain to stabilize market prices

By Awan Achiek

Yambio Farmers Agri-Business Cooperative (YAFA) of Western Equatoria State has supplied over 25 metric tons of maize since the start of this year, in a bid to stabilize market prices.

Anthony Ezekiel Ndukgo, Chairperson of YAFA on Tuesday told The Dawn, said that they have supplied 5 metric tons of maize grain to the World Food Programme (WFP), and also sold more than 20 metric tons to various businesses in the country.

“We still have more maize which we need to sell to any person who may need it,” Ezekiel said during an interview in Yambio facilitated by the WFP.

Ezekiel said their Cooperative has planted and harvested enough crops this year.

He noted that they have also sold 300 bags of maize grain to traders in neighbouring Lakes State, Western Bahr El Ghazal and Juba.

“Last year in our Cooperative, we sold 300 bags of maize to business people who came from Wau and others came from Rumbek,” Ezekiel said.

He said that due to the hike in fuel prices, the transport cost has redoubled, thus affecting the transportation of food supplies to other states.

“This state previously has been exporting grain to other places such as Rumbek, Wau and Juba but the only challenge is the issue of transport because with this economic crisis, the transport cost is very high,” Ezekiel said.

With support from the German Government through KfW, WFP has already procured 650MT of white maize in Western & Eastern Equatoria.