Caritas Starts Delivery of Cassava Cuttings
The Caritas Torit Food Security and Nutrition Department in the Catholic Diocese of Torit has started distributing cassava cuttings to Lafon and Imehejek corridors in Eastern Equatoria state. 23 April 2013 Caritas Torit officials loading cassava cuttings in Torit before proceeding to Imehejek for distribution. [Peter Lokale Nakimangole] By Peter Lokale Nakimangole TORIT, 23 April 2013 [Gurtong] – Mr. Denis Okumu, the coordinator for food security and nutrition at Caritas Torit received the first consignment of 200 bags of the cassava cutting from Magwi County to be dispatched to Imehejek corridor. He says the second dispatch of another 200 bags of cassava cuttings is yet to arrive on Monday for Lafon corridor while farmers in Kapoeta, Torit and Ikwoto counties are among 1,300 beneficiaries of 1,300 bags of cassava cuttings for planting. Mr. Okumu discloses that distribution of the cassava cuttings is part of recently launched 303, 545 South Sudanese Pounds project funded by the Germany Government through the Food and Agricultural Organization (FOA), of the United Nations. The project aims at improving on agricultural productivity in the state. According to the coordinator, in the second outcome of the project about 2,350 households of vulnerable communities are to receive agricultural production inputs. At least 42 Metric tons of assorted crop seeds, 4,700 pieces of hand tools are to be provided to 2,350 beneficiaries mostly IDPs, Returnees and vulnerable host community. Mr. Okumu explains that the project’s specific objective is to contribute to reducing the deficit in food production among vulnerable communities. He added that the ultimate objective is to improve Food Security and Livelihood of Vulnerable Households in the state. He says Caritas Torit seeks to alleviate poverty by empowering the communities through Socio-Economical Development Programmes to cultivate more food crops. According to the coordinator, purchasing the ‘Tropical Manhat Execulenta (TME) cassava variety from Magwi County is not only suitable to be grown in Eastern Equatoria state but also adoptable variety. Recently, the state minister of Agriculture, irrigation, Forestry and cooperatives, Mark Akio had warned partners to speed up seed distributions in the state saying delays affect crop planting and retard yields. He further warned that the state won’t accept any organization bringing seeds as late as by May for distributions. Posted in: Home, Governance, Foreign Aid/Assistance -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
