Kiir puts food production amongst top developmental plans
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July 24, 2011 (JUBA) - Salva Kiir Mayardit, president of the newly
established state of South Sudan on Sunday said his administration
would put increased food production amongst its development
priorities.
He called on the citizens to “grow what they eat and eat what they
grow” at a well-attended Church Service at Kator Cathedral on Sunday.
Kiir urged young people to rise up to the challenge and engage in
agricultural activities and lamented that farming is diminishing in
the area.
Farming areas have turned into forest again through lack of activity
said Kiir, who became South Sudan’s first president on July 9,
"If I tell you to till the land, you say it is difficult. But farming
and death which one is difficult? We all know that you cannot go to
heaven without dying, so how is it possible for you to have something
without sweating?"
"Why not cultivate and sell a bag of rice or sorghum for money than
sitting idle and expect everything to come from the government.
Everybody look to the government and begin asking everything, said
president calling also on the private sector to take part in the
development of the country by constructing good buildings, saying they
have not been helpful to the development of the area."
"Today if you see a good building in South Sudan, it belongs to either
NGOS (None Governmental Organizations) or government and the people
with money especially those with money from the private sector are
sitting and watching," he concluded.
Stephen Dhieu Dau, a caretaker minister trade and industry in a
separate interview with the Sudan Tribune on Sunday described
agriculture as the backbone of the nation’s economy.
The Trade minister stressed that farming is not only a venture for the
poor, and urged the country’s wealthy business individuals to venture
into agriculture to ensure that the country produces enough food for
consumption and export.
Minister Dau observed that South Sudan has a massive trade deficit. He
urged business people to help reverse the trend by working to ensure
that the country also grows goods to export. This, he added will
enhance and add value to the country’s economy.
The Trade minister also urged the citizenry to cultivate food crops
like maize, underscoring their economic potential. He pointed out that
the massive production of maize will not only benefit people, but will
also feed for livestock.
“I will enjoin the business men and women to tighten their belts and
join hands together and ensure that they partake in whatever ventures
that will bring development in the country,” he concluded.
Jackson Awan Mayor, who identified himself as a local farmer in Yirol
West County, Lakes State, commended the president Kiir for fulfilling
most of the pledges he made to them during April elections.
Achol Marial, a member of parliament representing the area at South
Sudan Legislative Assembly turned National Assembly, said the
president has fulfilled most of the pledges he made in 2010 when he
came to the area.
He added that the pledges included a senior secondary school, feeder
roads, and so on.
He commended President for initiating the Emergency Agricultural
Production Project (GEAPP) which intends to provide local farmers with
all the farming tools including power tillers, which he said would
significantly help farmers to increase food production in the area and
across the country.
(ST)
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