State minister of agriculture: hunger hits Eastern Equatoria Article Comments (2) Email PrintSave --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
by Ijoo Bosco February 24, 2011 (TORIT) - The state minister of agriculture in Eastern Equatoria, Jerome Surur says over 380,000 people are affected of hunger in the state Jerome Surur (ST) Surur says the people affected have become more vulnerable and are in need of immediate assistance in order to bridge the extended hunger season normally experienced between April and June. The state minister added that in a report released by Food and Agriculture Organisation and World Health Organisation and the food assessment mission to Southern Sudan indicates that Eastern Equatoria is one of the five states are of concern. The report also indicates that Eastern Equatoria has food deficit of 42,777MT, which by implication means about 95,600 people in the state are severely food insecure and 259,220 are moderately food insecure. The minister added that there were a number of factors that caused the food insecurity within the state, among them: the green grasshoppers that attacked Magwi county; birds in large number destroying grains in the greater Kapoeta; floods in Lafo Lopa destroying crops in the field especially in Pari land; plus fire being set by the unknown people, burning hundreds of plots of sorghum in Magwi and Ikwoto counties. Surur added that moderate food insecure populations are also vulnerable and at risk of becoming severely food insecure during this period, if their livelihoods are not protected and supported. Jerome says with the hunger period progressing, sales of livestock are likely to increase, creating the conditions under which declining livestock price and increasing cereal prices could produce a trade crisis. (ST) -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en.
