The manager of the Aweil Rice Scheme in South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal State has revealed that this year’s crop is expected to fail due to the lack of funds, manure, agricultural tools, and unprecedented flooding among other problems.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday evening, Madut Agei Deng predicted that rice production for the 2024 agricultural season will collapse because local farmers who are partnering with the government are unable to get funds to ensure that weeding is done on time.
He has also said heavy rains have affected many spaces that were cultivated recently as the management has been reluctant to revive the water systems that help regulate the amount of water in the scheme.
“I cannot predict the success of the Aweil Rice Scheme this season because weeding activities are not yet done because farmers lack funds,” he stated. “Also, some spaces contain sprouts of rice amidst heavy downpours and this means that the crop will fail instantly.”
Agei added: “The positive rice production prediction is realized when the weeding activities are completed early and water control systems are in place to protect the crops, but now the scheme will fail like in the past year.”
The manager revealed that the current cultivated space is 200 feddans (209 acres) which is less than the past few years. He invited the government and developmental partners to ensure the future success of the scheme through the provision of improved seeds, funds, and manure, and the recruitment of a qualified team of irrigation and agronomy engineers and agriculturalists who can carry out their duties objectively and efficiently.
The Aweil Rice Scheme was established by the British Colonial Administration in the 1940s and measured about 11,000 feddans.