South Sudan’s Aweil state agriculture ministry is calling on private companies to invest in timber production ahead of the rainy season.
Last year, Aweil state ministry of agriculture, animal resources, and fisheries withdrew all licenses to private companies due to claims that the companies violate forest conservation plans in the state. The government then took over timber production.
But, agriculture minister Joseph Garang Garang said the government has failed to meet local demand for timber and is calling for partnership with private companies.
“We have announced to qualified companies this month to partner with the government to produce timber to meet the needs of citizens. We in Aweil state in 2018 banned all companies and individuals who access the forest and operate in timbers randomly and the government was holding the contract to produce the timbers,” he said.
Garang said the government has been supplying the local markets since January but has not been able to keep up with the needs.
According to Aweil state council of ministers resolution, an estimated 200 trees or more will be chopped as the wet season approaches.