South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"

By Jenifer James
The Governor of Western Bahr El Ghazal State, Emmanuel Primo Ukello, has called on citizens particularly the youth to prioritize agriculture as a solution to the region’s escalating food insecurity.
His appeal comes amid rising concerns over food shortages and skyrocketing prices of food affecting many families in the State.
“Agriculture is one of my top priorities. The government will work to provide seeds, farming tools, and other resources to enable youth and women to engage actively in agriculture,” said Ukello in an interview with The Dawn on Wednesday in Wau town.
Ukello said his administration is prioritizing to mitigate the high market prices of food through promoting local production.
“With food prices rising and shortages in several areas, we must embrace agriculture collectively, particularly here in Wau to secure our future,” he disclosed.
Ukello urged development partners and private stakeholders to invest in modern farming techniques and provide technical assistance to local farmers.
Akol Mayen, a farmer in Raja County, expressed concern over the lack of seedlings and farming tools including irrigation system.
“Without these it’s difficult to achieve good yields. The unpredictable weather makes farming even more challenging,” said Mayen.
Another farmer,Flora Juma, emphasized the need for training on modern farming methods to adapt to climate change and improve efficiency.
“Many of us struggle because we lack the knowledge and tools needed to improve our yields. Support for modern farming techniques could make a big difference,” Juma explained.
The Integrated Food Classification Report released in October by UN agencies revealed that over 1.7 million people are facing critical levels of food insecurity (IPC Phase 4) in the country.