The Ministry of Agriculture in Western Equatoria State has urged farmers to form cooperatives and invest more in agriculture as a pathway to sustainable development and food security.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Thursday, Alison Barnaba, the State Minister of Agriculture, emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting both organized farming groups and progressive individual farmers throughout the state.
“This year, we are supporting group farmers, especially in areas like Maridi County,” he said. “We believe that forming cooperatives will enable farmers to collectively cultivate up to 75, 100, or even 150 feddans, which would be difficult for individuals to achieve alone.”
He highlighted the recent seed fair organized by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO) in Maridi County, where over 4,500 farmers from seven payams and bomas participated.
Minister Barnaba expressed optimism about the region’s agricultural potential this year, although he acknowledged that irregular rainfall remains a challenge in Maridi and other parts of Western Equatoria.
Meanwhile, Andrea Joseph, a local farmer who attended the fair, lauded the initiative, saying it provided access to quality seeds such as maize, groundnuts, simsim, and beans.
“We sold our seeds to UNFAO,” he stated. “They were clean, well-prepared, and the entire process was very organized.”
Another participant, a seed vendor and farmer in Maridi County, shared that they operate under a cooperative called the Anida Farmers Group, consisting of 35 members.
“Being in a group helps us produce enough food,” the vendor said. “However, we urge that seeds be distributed earlier, not later, as is often the case.”
Charles Kpimabata, Acting Head of the FAO Field Office in Yambio, confirmed that the 4,500 farmers who participated were registered beneficiaries, and several seed vendors were involved in the fair.
“We issued token cards to farmers, which they used to bring and exchange their produce and seeds,” Kpimabata explained. “Our primary goal is to boost agricultural production and combat hunger.”
He added that the seed fair project, currently funded by the World Bank, is limited to Maridi County for this main planting season, but there are hopes of expanding it to other counties, subject to availability of funding.