(RENK) – Authorities in Renk County, located in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State, have announced a full exemption on all taxes for agricultural inputs, including tools, seeds, pesticides and fuel, in an effort to support farmers and improve food production during the current farming season.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by Renk County Commissioner Diing Deng Lueth during a live broadcast on the South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC). He said the exemption would immediately take effect, and all local tax collection teams had been informed to enforce the decision without delay.
Commissioner Lueth explained that the directive aims to reduce financial pressure on farmers and encourage them to increase their productivity.
He said, “With the small efforts that we have, we have supported the farming season. Our support comes in terms of exempting all agricultural inputs, which include all agricultural tools and equipment. We have also exempted them from trade licensing fees. Fuel, engine oils, among others, we will not collect any kind of revenue from them as our support.”
The tax exemption also extends to trade licensing fees specifically for farmers. This measure is intended to promote a more farmer-friendly business environment in the county and attract more citizens to engage in agriculture.
Agricultural input prices in South Sudan are generally high due to dependency on imports, high transport costs and limited infrastructure.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman of the Renk Farmers’ Union, Mr. Nyok Deng Ayiik, welcomed the decision, calling it a positive step that should be matched by national level support. He appealed to the central government, particularly the Ministry of Finance and Planning, to allocate funding for purchasing strategic food reserves.
“If we don’t farm and make a strategic food reserve, I think our country will suffer,” Mr. Ayiik warned. “We are urging the Government of South Sudan to allocate a budget for buying the strategic food reserve for its people.”
Local farmers in Renk have expressed hope that the exemption will enable them to increase their investment in agricultural production, especially as planting continues in the rainy season.
South Sudan continues to face challenges in food security due to years of conflict, climate change impacts and a struggling economy. Renk, one of the country’s most productive agricultural zones, is now looking to lead in reversing the trend through community led agricultural growth supported by local government initiatives.
While this initiative is at the county level, observers believe it could serve as a model for other counties and state governments across South Sudan aiming to combat hunger and promote domestic food sufficiency.
