The governments of Eastern Equatoria and Warrap states say Fridays will not be a working day and instead ordered all government employees to join their communities as they cultivate, in a bid to improve food security.

Eastern Equatoria State Minister of Agriculture, Environment, and Forestry Placid Koks Komakech told Radio Tamazuj that the order takes effect starting Friday 14, 2021.

He says the policy will help improve livelihoods through increased food production, saying the government authorities will monitor the implementation of the order.

“In fact, it is referring to every one of us especially the working class. They are given this day to go in the field and do something. It is for those working with the government even the NGOs because all of us need food. This year we are going to monitor. If you are working and you are not going in the field, then we shall monitor and ask you why exactly you are doing so,” he stated. 

Koks said he is in discussions with the state education minister to exempt teachers from the order so that they can attend to their duties after about a year of no classes due to the Covid-19 lockdown.

In the same breath, the Warrap State council of ministers in its first extraordinary meeting chaired by Governor Aleu Ayieny Aleu last Friday declared Friday, an agricultural day.

The State Minister of Information Riing Deng said the decision is to boost local production and fight poverty and hunger in the state. He further added that all statutory and local courts were put on hold until the farming season is over across the state.

"There is poverty and hunger and for the government to eradicate these, two days or more can make someone cultivate much so that next year there will be plenty of food," he said.