Farmers in South Sudan’s Yei River County are calling on the Central Equatoria State government to restore peace, security, and stability to allow them to embark on massive agricultural production by 2023.
Several farmers gathered at the Yei Freedom square last Friday to showcase their farm produce to the public as a means to market and promote the consumption of locally produced organic foods in the county.
Speaking at the square, several farmers said the area is capable of producing enough food but that is hindered by a lack of sustainable peace.
Taban Philip, a farmer in Yei told Radio Tamazuj that the rampant insecurity coupled with the poor road network frustrates farmers’ ability to engage in massive food production.
“What we want in Yei is peace and if there is peace and security and good roads we can produce enough food in Yei. Currently, the roads are completely poor and we want these roads worked on so that we can transport our farm produce to the markets in Juba. What we are crying for at the moment is peace and stability in Yei,” he said.
Another farmer, Evana Musa, said she brought farm produce including maize grains, cassava flour, and different vegetables for sale at the square.
“We urge the government to promote peace because without us the farmers, there will be no nation and we want the government to ensure all the roads to the villages are opened for free movement so that we can develop this country through agriculture,” Musa said. “We want to bring back the name of ‘Yei small London’ to its previous glory of peace and love.”
She urged the non-governmental organizations there to support the farmers with farm tools and also be a market for their farm produce, and the government to avail loan services to farmers to improve agriculture there.
Festo Ade, a member of the Kembe Cooperative Group said they brought farm harvests such as maize, beans, groundnuts, and many other types of vegetables and domestic animals like goats, and chicken for the trade show.
He appeals to the government to promote dialogue with the armed groups and restore peace in the region.
“We came to Yei Freedom Square and we brought our farm produce like maize, beans, grounds, fresh vegetables and we also have domestic animals like chicken, goats, and cows brought here for sale,” he said. “We all know Yei is a fertile agricultural area that needs support through peace and stability and this will enable us to produce enough food for the country and also for export to the region in East Africa.”
For his part, Central Equatoria State governor Emmanuel Adil reiterated that his government has prioritized agriculture as a pillar for economic development.
Governor Adil said the state government is committed to restoring peace and stability by engaging in a peace dialogue with the holdout groups operating in the state to allow the local population to enjoy peace dividends.
“We say if there is any son or daughter of this state who is still carrying up arms, the president is still holding into the general amnesty and you are free to go to the nearby chief, the Payam administration, any of the counties or to the state you come for us to embrace peace. Peace has been signed and the rest of the country is in peace,” he noted. “I need to call on our brothers and sisters who are still holding up arms to come and join peace and as such we are working together with our people to make sure we talk to ourselves as sons and daughters of this state to embrace peace.”
Yei River County lies in the green belt region with favorable rainfalls and fertile soil suitable for agricultural production yet South Sudan highly depends on imported produce to feed its population.