NBGs governor Tong Akeen Ngor and representative from UN food agencies speaks to the media at the launch of 2024 planting seasion. March 13, 2024. (-).

The South Sudan government and United Nations food agencies launched the 2024 planting season at Aweil Rice Scheme of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State on Wednesday.

The government and UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), a key partner in the initiative, launched the planting season, marked by land preparations at the decades-old scheme undergoing revival.

Governor Akeen pledged the state government commitment to prioritize the agriculture to fight food Insecurity and boost the economy.

The governor also urged the state farmers to be prepared for farming this year’s planting season and called on returnees to cultivate and end dependence on humanitarian assistance.

He also acknowledged the support provided by development partners including United Nations World Food Programme and Food and Agricultural Organization.

“This year is different completely from the past years because this launch kicks off with backing of the national government and the donors including FAO, which is the one handling the project. our farmers are ready this year to cultivate,” he said.

The event under the theme: ‘Building for Food and Nutrition Security’ was also attended by Lily Albino Akol, the Deputy National Minister of Agriculture.

According to a statement from his office, Governor Akeen outlined that the issue of climate change-induced flooding is a “major threat that always affects agricultural production in the state.

South Sudan experienced unprecedented levels of seasonal floods from 2019 to 2022 that inundated low-lying areas including Northern Bahr el Ghazal – a phenomenon linked to the consequences of climate change.

According to humanitarian agencies, floods are affecting between 750,000 and more than one million people every year in South Sudan, submerging farmlands, killing livestock and forcing half of them to leave their homeland to higher grounds.

Speaking during the launch, Deputy Minister Lily Albino said Aweil Rice Scheme has a huge potential to alleviate food insecurity in the state and across the greater Bahr el Ghazal region.

“Now, we can confidently say that base 7, 8 and 15 (in the scheme) are ready for the farming season and they will be farmed,” she said.

“We will continue to walk together with the state government and the state minister of Agriculture African Development Bank and FAO to improve food insecurity not only in Aweil but throughout South Sudan.”

“This is a great beginning for us, and Aweil rice scheme the project that has a huge potential to help in alleviating food insecurity in the state and across Bahr el Ghazal.”

For his part, FAO’s country representative, Meshack Malo, has encouraged farmers all over the country to begin preparing their lands.

“We are encouraging farmers all over the country to begin preparing their land and it has been very symbolic,” Malo said.

” We are here with farmers to ensure that we begin preparing as we wait for the main rain. It’s also most significant that we are doing it here in Aweil which represents the great ambition of South Sudan to be able to export.”