The Farmers Union in Malakal County in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State has complained about insecurity and lack of funding during this year’s planting season.
Union leader Simon Kiir told Radio Tamazuj that Upper Nile farmers are ready for planting but can’t do so because they haven’t received funding by the national Agriculture Ministry.
He said about 3 million acres have been allocated for this year’s farming season if agricultural inputs are made available before April.
Kiir pointed out the delay of last year’s agricultural season has had a negative impact on the productivity.
The farmers’ head indicated that some Malakal farmers lost their tractors due to the ongoing war and that they have not been compensated so far.
The insecurity has significantly affected the preparation for the agriculture season, besides the problem of funding, according to Kiir.
He urged the National Agriculture Ministry to provide agricultural inputs to farmers for the successes of this year’s agricultural season.