Aweil West County in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State is facing a significant challenge in carrying out effective agricultural activities due to a hunger crisis exacerbated by the floods that occurred last year, local leaders said.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Sunday, Paramount Chief Dut Majak of Aweil West County highlighted the severity of the hunger crisis and the escalating prices of essential commodities.
“The hunger crisis is severe here, with skyrocketing prices. It is difficult for everyone to engage in cultivation. Only a few people are able to cultivate sesame and other cash crops,” Chief Majak stated.
Meanwhile, County Commissioner Marko Majok Piol confirmed the hardships faced by the citizens, emphasizing the dire situation. “The farming season is not going well, and we are deeply disappointed. The hunger crisis is affecting everyone’s ability to cultivate their farms,” expressed Commissioner Majok.
He raised concerns about the exorbitant market prices caused by last year’s floods and questioned how the average citizen, without a stable income, could afford 2,000 SSP to purchase 3.5 kg of sorghum per day.
In response to the crisis, he said the government of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State has launched initiatives to alleviate the situation. He added that the government has been distributing subsidized food items to help the locals recover and build resilience for adequate food production during this year’s agricultural season.