EES Records Impressive Food Harvest In 2011

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in Eastern Equatoria State has released a report on food security situation in the State; the report describes the situation ‘to have comparatively improved’ in comparison to 2010.

A joint report dated 9th December 2011 by the Crop Livestock Market Information System (CLIMIS), Crop Food Security Assessment Mission (CFSAM) and Food Security Technical Secretariat (FSTS) states that the food security situation in EES has relatively improved as compared 2010 and it narrates that the months of November and December 2011, witnessed improved cereal supply in the local markets from food surplus areas.

While commenting on the report, the EES Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Mr. Jerome Gama Surur disclosed to Gurtong that in terms of food production, out of eight 8 Counties, Magwi, Budi, Ikotos, Lafon/Lopa and Torit Counties have relatively performed far much better in comparison to last year’s harvests and that as a result have impacted positively on food security situation of the households in the State.

He explained that sorghum plantations in some parts of Magwi County specifically Agoro and Lofiriha were attacked again by the green grasshoppers. This will certainly affect people’s livelihood.

Based on a report Gurtong obtained from the State Ministry of Agriculture, Kapoeta North, Kapoeta South and Kapoeta East Counties were negatively affected by dry spells and the erratic rainfall. Very soon most of the households would migrate with their animals in search of pasture and water points, hence limiting the amount of milk supplies for the consumption of the elderly and the young children left at home.

Surur quoted the CLIMIS report that fishing activities are taking place along the Nile in Nimule and Pageri Payam although with little significance to food security improvement.

He said livestock productivity with erratic rainfall, poor pasture and water points led to limited availability of milk, and meat. However, no serious livestock diseases so far reported during this period.

While acknowledging the region’s fertility that could generate adequate food to feed the whole country and even export to the neighboring countries like Uganda and Kenya, the present main South Sudan’s food importers; the Minister advised citizens to seriously focus on farming activities so as to minimize dependency on foreign food imports.