(AWEIL) – The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Environment for Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, Garang Chan Atak, has announced a series of government led initiatives aimed at increasing food production and improving food security in the region.
Speaking to the media this week, Minister Chan emphasised the state government’s commitment to working in close coordination with the national government to fulfil the country’s agricultural development agenda. He noted that agriculture remains the top priority in the national strategy to combat hunger.
“First of all, it is already known that our national government has put agriculture as the first priority in order to eradicate hunger across the country,” said Minister Chan.
He outlined several steps the state has taken recently to contribute to national food security goals. These include the cultivation of Kuom Horticulture Gardens, the development of Waardit Vegetable Farms, the planting of more than 100 feddans of land in rice basin areas, and the training of farmers in modern agricultural practices, particularly climate smart farming techniques.
| Project Area | Description |
|---|---|
| Kuom Horticulture Gardens | Cultivation launched this season |
| Waardit Vegetable Farms | Expansion in vegetable production |
| State Rice Basins | Over 100 feddans cultivated |
| Farmer Training | Focus on climate smart agriculture methods |
Minister Chan highlighted the use of hired tractors for land preparation and cultivation, acknowledging that the state currently does not possess its own machinery due to the failure to recover any tractors through the Assets Recovery Committee.
“No single tractor has been recovered by the Assets Recovery Committee,” he stated, referring to efforts to reclaim public assets for government use. The shortage of owned machinery remains a challenge, although hiring tractors has allowed farming projects to continue.
Despite this limitation, the minister described the overall progress as positive, noting improvements in local food production that aim to reduce dependence on imports and emergency food aid. He stressed that these farming initiatives are key to both short-term relief and long term development.
Northern Bahr el Ghazal, like many parts of South Sudan, has faced recurrent food insecurity in recent years due to conflict, displacement, and climate related shocks such as drought and flooding. The revitalised agricultural efforts are intended to stabilise the region’s food supply and support livelihoods.
