Plans are in place to cultivate 2 million acres of farmland during this year’s agricultural season in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State, a local official said.

Adam Wieu Ayong, the Director General of the Agriculture Ministry in the defunct Northern Upper Nile State, told Radio Tamazuj on Thursday that arrangements are underway to cultivate 1.5 million acres of farmland in Renk, 250,000 acres in Melut and 250,000 acres in Maban.

He, however, said swarms of locusts in some areas in the state could affect agriculture if the national government does not intervene.

The official further appealed to the national government to provide agricultural inputs such as fuel, seeds and funds to boost productivity.

Many parts of the country are struggling with food shortages.

Despite the huge agricultural potential South Sudan possesses, only about 5 percent of its arable land is reportedly cultivated.