President Kiir vows to modernize agriculture to boost food production

By Benjamin Takpiny

President Salva Kiir Mayardit promised on Thursday to modernize agriculture in order to increase food production in the country.

“My country remains committed to transforming the agriculture sector from the current local consumption to commercialized farming to achieve food security, create jobs, increase income and reduce poverty,” Kiir said during the high- level meeting on state governance on the sidelines of the 9th Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing.

He said that the priorities of South Sudan include modernization of agriculture through adoption of modern technologies to increase food production and boost trade. 

Kiir called for strengthening the technical capacity of South Sudanese to manage the process of modernizing the agriculture sector   through exchange training opportunities between South Sudanese and Chinese experts.

“You may be aware that South Sudan has abundant natural resources  and water, for example its rains for six months a year and up to 60 percent of the land is fertile for farming, but only 4 percent is cultivated due to lack of improved farming methods,” he disclosed.

He said that more than 80 percent of the South Sudanese population live in rural areas and are heavily dependent on agriculture for survival.

“We are an agricultural region and nation for that matter, therefore my country seeks to join hands with you all to advance modern farming for a shared- future as the theme suggests, I hereby confirm South Sudan’s commitment to the FOCAC and urge all members to give agriculture priority for a productive prosperity in terms of local food security,” Kiir said.

The FOCAC Summit commenced on September 4^th and will close on September 6^th 2024.