Northern Bahr El Ghazal officials urge investment in farming amidst hunger crisis

AWEIL – The government of Northern Bahr El Ghazal state is urging citizens to invest in agriculture as a means of combating rampant hunger and supporting the growing returnee population.

Last Friday, a delegation comprised of Agricultural Bank of South Sudan officials, a representative of the Aweil Farmers group, and state minister of information and communication, Hon. Zechariah Garang Lual, visited Tony-Chol near the Sudan border to assess the area’s farming potential.

Garang told the media the visit was intended to evaluate the possibility of a large-scale farming project at Tony-Chol to improve livelihoods.

He emphasized the need to responsibly invest funds and machinery into agriculture to curtail the hunger crisis.

“We have gone to Tony-Chol which borders Abyei and Sudan and it is a huge scheme that we think can help the large population of Aweil if people cultivate sorghum in that site,” said Garang.

“Also, we shared our views with the Agriculture Bank officials led by Pieng Deng Kuol in order to lend money to the farmers for the sake of machines like tractors and cultivate a lot this year,” he added.

The minister acknowledged the severe hunger affecting the population, warning of dire consequences if reliance on humanitarian assistance continues.