Government to prioritize food production for self-sufficiency

JUBA – South Sudan’s minister of agriculture and food security, Josephine Joseph Lagu Monday vowed to prioritize the agriculture sector to raise farm productivity and farmers’ income for self-sufficiency.

The minister made the remarks during the opening of a three-day national conference on agriculture and food security under the theme: “Let’s produce what We Eat,” held in Juba Monday.

“We at the Ministry will focus on the possibilities, opportunities that we have in this country to indeed make sure that we don’t only produce enough food to feed ourselves but also realized the old age dream of making South Sudan the breadbasket of the region and beyond,” said Joseph said at the conference.

Lagu assured farmers and other partners in the agribusiness that his ministry is working towards boost food production in the country.

“We don’t really want to be food insecure in this country because we have the resources to provide enough food to feed ourselves,” she said.

“We have River Nile and reasonable rainfall as well as a fairly young population that can be engaged in agriculture,” she added.

Onyoti Adigo Nyikec, minister of Animal Resources and Fisheries, said the agriculture sector which is currently an underdeveloped could offer considerable potential if developed.

“South Sudan has enormous potential not only to feed itself and eliminate hunger for food insecurity but also to be a major player in the regional food market,” Adigo said at the conference.

“South Sudan is among many countries where hunger and poverty persist with a very high prevalence of undernourishment and macro nutrition inefficiency,” Nyikec added.

He said the government intends to work with farmers to boost the agricultural sector in the country.

“This potential lies in its land, water, livestock, fisheries, and its men and women with knowledge of market opportunity,” he disclosed.

“The government is prioritizing agricultural sector or agriculture livestock, fisheries, and poultry production as one of the key pillars of the economy in the country,” he added.