South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Jenifer James
The Governor of Unity State, Riek Bim Top, officially launched a state-wide agricultural campaign as South Sudan enters the rainy season on Sunday in Rotriah town, Rubkona County.
Under the theme “Supporting Agricultural Activities to Boost Food Production,” the initiative aims to improve local food production in alignment with resolutions from the 8th Governors Forum.
Additionally, the governor inaugurated a 100-hectare farming project in Nortikur village, Mayom County. This project is designed to promote self-reliance and combat food insecurity in a region that has faced significant agricultural challenges due to repeated flooding over the past several years.
Speaking at the campaign launch, Governor Bim called on communities to take the lead in cultivating their own food, stressing that security in the region would be maintained to support agricultural activities.
“Today, I call on all of you to commit to local food production as this important season approaches,” Governor Bim said during the launch event. “The government is committed to this initiative, and we will continue to ensure security in the state.”
The campaign follows recommendations made at the 8th Governors Forum held in December 2024, where state leaders urged greater investment in agriculture as a key strategy to diversify South Sudan’s economy. The forum called on both the Ministry of Finance and Planning and state authorities to prioritize support for farming and rural development.
Governor Bim’s initiative aligns with similar efforts across the country. Central Equatoria State Governor Augustino Jadallah recently directed all six counties in his state to allocate 20 square kilometers of land for agricultural use, citing the urgent need to ramp up food production.
Despite these renewed efforts, Unity State faces significant environmental challenges. The region has endured five consecutive years of seasonal flooding, which has submerged farmland, wiped out livestock, and forced many residents to abandon traditional livelihoods.
While the scale and implementation strategy of the Rotriah campaign remain unclear, the governor emphasized the importance of resilience. “We must work together to overcome these challenges,” Bim stated. “Agriculture is the backbone of our economy, and we must not let adversity hold us back.”
The success of these initiatives, however, may depend on long-term infrastructure development and sustained investment in climate adaptation strategies.
