South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Mayak Majak Madit Tokjok
The former Deputy Governor of Lakes State, Ustaz David Nok Marial Buot, has urged the youth to champion agricultural production across the country.
“This will improve the academic calendar for pupils and students who own farms, allowing them to sell their local produce in markets and pay their tuition fees,” he told The Dawn in an interview during Independence Day on Wednesday.
He noted that many young people are wasting their time loitering, playing cards, criticising others on social media, and drinking alcohol. This behaviour, which shows a lack of respect for cultural norms, is adversely affecting the future of the next generation.
“South Sudan has fertile land suitable for organic food cultivation. This can enable farmers who have cultivated large areas to buy cattle with their produce. The economic hardship will change automatically when local products and the quality of South Sudanese livestock reach international markets like Rwanda, South Africa, and Germany. This will enhance economic prosperity. The salaries in the government sector, whether at the national or state level, are minimal and insufficient to support educational journeys,” Buot added.
Buot also emphasised the importance of self-commitment in the private sector, stating that agricultural production and other fruitful businesses can transform lifestyles and drive development forward.
He called on parents to avoid misusing or questioning the produce of their children and instead to support their education. The benefits of this educational investment will be felt by the whole country once graduates secure quality jobs with respected qualifications, as basic Bachelor’s degrees will not be sufficient in the near future.
He also mentioned that the current security situation is stable, crediting President Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit for the bold appointment of Governor Rin Tueny Mabor on 8th June 2021. Officials from Rumbek, both in Juba and the state, have framed collective laws during consultative meetings and handed them over to the governor to support peaceful governance in Lakes State and to prevent communal disputes.
