The Eastern Equatoria State Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Tuesday launched the distribution of seasonal seeds in Torit.

According to officials, the distribution of seeds, including maize, sorghum, and okra, targets over 49,000 farming households across Eastern Equatoria State and aims to increase food production in the state.

Anna Itwari, the Director General at the State Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Environment, urged farmers to commit and engage in farming as a means of fighting hunger and food insecurity.

“We are privileged to come and launch our seeds distribution process because we want to prepare for a food secure state,” she said. “FAO is also doing its best because they have come quite early. Let us put our hands together so that we produce enough food. The rain is starting so we need to start farming to produce enough food.”

For his part, Albino Sylvester, the FAO representative, said the distribution of seeds aims at mobilizing farmers to respond to fighting food insecurity in the state.

“We are launching the main season response today and the main objective is to mobilize and sensitize all the communities of Eastern Equatoria about farming because it is important,” he said. “There are so many economic crises affecting the population here and there is no solution for this apart from agriculture. That is why all of us should get involved in agricultural production.”

Sylvester added: “FAO, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, is planning to support 49,230 households with assorted crop seeds this year.”

Albina Iromo, a disabled farmer who lives in the Odik-Yee residential area of Torit town, confirmed that she received maize, sorghum, and okra seeds which she will plant to sustain her family.

“I have received maize, okra, and dura seeds and I am going to plant them to help my family through Almighty Jesus Christ and I will also share some of the seeds with my neighbor,” she said.

Another beneficiary, Jokomina Dukan, said she also received maize, sorghum, and okra seeds which she said came at the right time.

“We appreciate them because we have now received the seeds. We were worried about where we would get seeds as the rains are approaching and we are happy because they distributed seeds early. I am now ready to clear land for farming,” she stated.

Meanwhile, Philip Inyani, the representative of the Food Security and Livelihood Cluster, acknowledged the support from the state agriculture ministry and other partners but warned about livestock destroying crops.

“The partners are delivering services in our state and FAO and the government are exerting efforts for you farmers to have access to plant enough food. After returning home, let us pick our hoes and start farming because this year should be different,” he advised. “This might be the last seed distribution so let us plant all the seeds. However, there are people in the state who do not take care of their domestic animals and farmers may plant but some will come with their animals to destroy farms.”