Agricultural Conference In Juba

18 February 2011 – (Juba) – Central Equatoria ministry of Agriculture and Forestry on Thursday organized an agricultural conference in Juba under the theme, “Let the voice of the farmers be heard’’.

Central Equatoria state has opened up an awarding competition for all farmers which is aimed at encouraging more agricultural production and boosting the moral of farmers in the state.

Speaking at the forum, the state minister of animal resource and fishery, Professor Ladu Bureng said that farmers shall be recognized for any good produce.

[Ladu Bureng]: “A cassava which is ten kilos or fifteen kilos; one cassava, if you can bring that one, bring it and you are going to get a price. And I say here the price will be like this; if it is the farmers’ cooperative, I am going to convey it to the governor that, that cooperative should be given a tractor.”

Speaking at the same agricultural forum, Central Equatoria state minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Michael Roberto Kenyi said the state will embark on food security through farmers unions.

[Roberto Kenyi]: “Their (farmers) voices should be heard, because this is the time we need the farmers more than before, because we need to feed our nation. And any nation that is happy is the nation that feeds itself. Therefore, the formation of farmers union gives farmers the power to negotiate with investors, it gives power to the farmers to lobby and influence the policies of the government so that at least the expenditure from the public funding could really go in to agriculture, so that the people of south Sudan and particular Central Equatoria state will be able to feed itself.”

The Government of Southern Sudan signed an agreement with non-governmental organizations this week to bolstering agricultural production in the region.