Daljang emphasised that foreign seeds often fail to reach farmers and are unsuitable for the region’s climate. “This year, I have suspended the distribution of foreign seeds,” he declared, urging partners like the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to source seeds from local farmers instead.
In a meeting with the state governor and FAO, officials agreed to prioritise purchasing seeds locally. However, a key obstacle is the lack of standardised measurements.
“Our local farmers are selling with basins. They are not using kilograms,” Daljang explained, noting that farmers lack weighing scales and training to meet international standards required by organisations like the FAO.
When pressed to set prices for crops such as sorghum, maize, and groundnuts, Daljang resisted, stating, “It is not my work.” He argued that FAO should negotiate directly with farmers to establish fair prices. He highlighted the inconsistency in local markets, where a basin of crops might sell for 20,000 to 50,000 SSP, creating challenges for uniform pricing.
Daljang stressed the need for better tools and training to support commercial farming. He noted that FAO provided two weighing scales to Cueibet County, but they remain unused due to inadequate training.
“We want to practice commercial farming, and if we are doing it, we want to meet a certain standard,” he said. Standardising measurements across counties like Cueibet, Awerial, Wulu, and Rumbek North, the minister argues, would ensure fair trade and prevent market exploitation.
He also criticised the high cost of foreign seeds, which can be three to four times more expensive than local varieties, disrupting the market. To address this, he called for training to help farmers adopt weighing scales and unify pricing for sustainable market linkages.
Mark Manyang Ater, a farmer and manager of Warpiu Family Farm and Investment in Lakes State, supported the minister’s decision. He argued that foreign seeds are often ineffective due to their inability to adapt to local climate conditions.
“If our farmers can decide to have their own seeds that they can have naturally on the ground here like our own groundnuts, our own dura, okra, and other seed varieties, it can be very helpful,” Ater said.
He criticised organisations like the World Food Programme (WFP) for importing seeds compromised by prolonged storage, which leads to poor germination and low yields. Instead, he urged partners to buy and redistribute local seeds.
Angelina Adhel Malual, Chairperson of the Civil Society Network in Lakes State, endorsed the suspension of foreign seed distribution. She emphasised that local seeds align better with the region’s climate and farmers’ expertise.
“I think it is a waste of resources because if you go and bring these seeds which do not go with our local farmers, then we are not helping the community,” she said.
Malual noted that foreign seeds are sometimes distributed at the wrong time, leading farmers to consume them rather than plant them. She called for partners to work with the Ministry of Agriculture to source local seeds, empowering farmers with familiar resources.
