Several farmers in Tambura State in South Sudan are appealing to national and international agricultural organizations to support them with tools and seeds for better crop production this year.
The farmers who spoke to Radio Tamazuj this week said they lack agricultural tools to prepare the lands for cultivation and pesticides to protect crops from pests and insects.
Carmelo Paikpayo, a farmer in Mbiri Village said the challenges limit their production.
“We do not have tractors, we only use our hands to plow and that does not allow us to cultivate huge pieces of land,” he said.
He called for support from the agriculture ministry and organizations to be able to improve individual production.
Another farmer Mary Raphael Siro said despite the challenges people should go to their farms and cultivate saying it is the only way to survive.
“People should plant and take their children to school, don’t just stay at home,” she advised.
Sedona Biajo who works for Star Trust Organization (STO) a local organization supporting agriculture in Tambura State said they will support the farmers with some tools and seeds for commercial farming.
For her part, Tambura State Minister of Agriculture Anna Felix said her ministry has provided training to some farmers and distributed seeds and farming tools.
She pointed out that the main challenge facing farmers in the state is the lack of pesticides, but encouraged farmers to make agriculture a priority for self-reliance.