South Sudan faces 600,000 tons of cereal deficit

JUBA – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said that the deficit in South Sudan’s cereal production is estimated at 600,000 this year.

Meshack Malo, the U.N. FAO Country Representative in South Sudan said the country needs about 1.5 million metric tons.

“The current food deficit when we go to cereals is about 600,000 metric tons, with a need of about 1.5 million metric tons, we are still at about 900,000 metric tons, there are certain areas that are 80 per cent deficient,” Malo said.

Malo attributed the cereal deficit to the impact of prolonged conflict and floods.

“From the report, it is clear that one of the main consequences why South Sudan is food insecure has nothing to do with land and water, it is about conflict and it is about lack of peace.”

Malo aid lasting peace is the solution to enable communities to benefit from South Sudan’s fertile soils and produce their own food.

“Once peace is there, the dividend of peace will be food security but once there is no peace, the consequence of that is food insecurity; peace must be built so that South Sudan can exit from food aid and produce their food.”

He said Jonglei state has a very low level of about 15 per cent of food production

“Jonglei state has a very low level of about 15 per cent of food production; not all South Sudan states are food insecure.”

“Yambio, in 2022, they harvest 130 per cent that means they have 30 per cent of the food they need to export, South Sudan has no business being in the food aid business.”