In an effort to enhance crop production and combat food shortages in the upcoming agricultural season, local authorities in Twic County, Warrap State, have recently passed a new bylaw.
This bylaw, which is aligned with the governor’s agricultural policy, aims to discourage idle behaviour during the crucial farming period.
Mangok Kom, the acting commissioner of Twic County, explained during an interview with Radio Tamazuj that the county is diligently implementing the governor’s directive to increase food production. “Yes, cultivation is a must. Everyone must cultivate. Otherwise, he or she will deal with police and it works now they (locals ) are engaging in cultivation,” he emphasized.
Kom clarified that individuals found loitering around marketplaces would not be arrested but would instead be required to contribute to the cultivation efforts on public farms.
“Yes, the public farms are for the government and up to now, we have not caught anybody loitering. But we are still them not to loiter around, or they will be taken to cultivate in the government farms,” he further stated.
He dismissed allegations that the county government had closed market centres, schools, and health facilities, explaining that the primary objective of the bylaw is to address the issue of jobless individuals unwilling to work.
“If we find one buying food, taking tea and going back to his or her work, then there is no problem. Our targets are those without jobs. We know those working, and we know those who are not working,” stated the acting commissioner.
The acting commissioner highlighted that the impact of the bylaw would be assessed by the end of June when the cultivation period concludes. He urged everyone to perceive farming as an obligation and the primary means of livelihood in South Sudan.
Aguek Manut, a resident of Wunrok Payam in Twic County, expressed gratitude for the government’s implementation of the bylaw, believing it would alleviate hunger in the community. “Cultivation is encouraging. There are good places where rain is enough and other places are waiting for the rains,” she said.
Manut also commended the government for designating Friday as a dedicated day for farming. “This order is good so that all people should go for cultivation and have plenty of food next year. Now, there are no people found in the markets in the morning, and everyone seems to have gone to farming. This is very good for some places here, people are weeding their early crops because the government made something good by declaring Friday as farming day,” she stated.
Meanwhile, Tor Malual, the chief of Ajak Kuac, stressed the importance of extensive agricultural efforts and expressed hope for a bountiful crop yield in the coming year. “In Ajak Kuac Payam, the rainfall has been moderate, and people are actively working in their farms, uncertain of whether the rain will continue or intensify,” he explained.
Chief Tor also confirmed that the community had discussed the bylaw with the youth, who acknowledged the necessity of focusing on farming and supported the decision to close recreational establishments (dominos and cards).
“For this order, we discussed it with youth yesterday on Friday in their places of dominos and cards and we told them that we want to close the club because the order came from the county stating that everyone must go and cultivate and we don’t want again loiterers so we accept the order,” chief Tor affirmed.