Reports from Fashoda County in Upper Nile State, South Sudan, reveal that the agricultural sector is facing dire challenges with birds and locusts menacing approximately seventy thousand acres of vital crops.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday, Fashoda County Commissioner, Ronyo Yor Deng, said a substantial portion of the cultivated land, totaling around seventy thousand acres, planted with diverse crops, is now at risk due to the relentless onslaught of pests.
Commissioner Deng emphasized that local authorities have already conveyed this critical issue to the state government and relevant agencies. However, he expressed his concern over the lack of a prompt response, saying, “Up to this moment, we have not received any feedback from the state government.”
The commissioner warned of the grim consequences if immediate action is not taken to address the crisis, stating that the failure of the agricultural season could further exacerbate the hunger situation in the area. He explained, “If these birds attack the crops, we will not have a good harvest this season.”
Simon Kiir, the head of the Upper Nile State Farmers Union, has said he is holding the central government accountable for the agricultural season’s looming failure if it fails to intervene urgently to combat the pest and bird infestation.
Kiir stressed that the central government possesses both the capability and responsibility to combat these threats effectively. He called upon the central government to dispatch specialized aircraft to mitigate the pest problem in the region and support the success of the agricultural season.
He underlined, “The responsibility to spray the pests lies with the central government. We don’t have the capabilities to do so.”
The agricultural crisis is not limited to Fashoda County alone. Surrounding counties, including Renk, Melut, and Mang, are also grappling with widespread infestations of pests and birds, posing a significant risk to thousands of acres of crops during this harvest season.