Local farmers in Sudan’s Sennar state said this year’s agriculture activities have been affected by shortages of South Sudanese farm workers in the state.

They attributed the problem to presence of defected troops of the former vice-president Riek Machar in the area.

In early October, Blue Nile farmers in Tadamoun accused South Sudanese rebels of forcible conscription of farm workers.

Several farmers told Radio Tamazuj that about 70% of agricultural projects along Sennar-Blue Nile-Upper Nile border, especially sesame crop, was affected due to the lack of farm workers.

Farmer Hamdan El Hadi said estimating only a 30% yield for his harvest.

He further said cattle belonging to nomadic tribes in the area have grazed on farms, jeopardizing the harvest.

The farmer pointed out that they informed local authorities on the matter so that the losses are compensated but there have been no tangible results so far.

Related:

S. Sudanese rebels accused of recruiting farm workers in Blue Nile

Photo: A woman applying mulch to preserve water for her vegetables in Terekeka (ACORD)