The Lakes State government has received 200 metric tons of food to ease food shortages on the market. The food will be sold to traders and the community at subsidized prices, Radio Miraya reported.

A 50 kilogram bag of maize flour will be sold at 130 SSP compared to the current price of 300 pounds, according to State Finance Minister Kuol Ayulo. He explained the food was purchased using financing of 3 million US dollars that was allocated by the national government to each state.

Ayulo says the state is expecting another consignment of food to arrive from Uganda.

“We received a reasonable consignment to reduce market prices on food items; we are expecting the last consignment of big quantity, we already have 20 trucks on the way coming and this will enable the government to supply the market, we are only given three millions per each location and this three millions we always to committed to only food supply so the first three millions which was given to this company is the one that we are expecting the last consignment of it now, we have the store of 200 hundred metric tons,” he said.

Kuol said the private company contracted to import the food has been advised to make sure the commodities arrive before the start of the rainy season.

“Most of these items already crossed the border. They are in Juba and the company starts now transporting them to this state. This is what we are planning: We are giving them pressure... because we remain with may be one and half month for the road to close.”