FILE: Lakes State Governor, Rin Tueny Mabor - COURTESY

Lakes Governor Rin Tueny Mabor has encouraged the state residents to prioritize agricultural production and promised to help provide security for them to freely go about their businesses.

Rin encouraged citizens including those in the urban areas to find land and prepare for farming ahead of the rainy season in order to tackle hunger, which he sees as a key factor driving conflicts in the state.

In his new year message, the governor promised security for farmers while calling on all communities to engage in extensive agricultural production for both business and subsistence.

“There is nothing that will sustain us except agriculture. Go out to the villages and start clearances farms this time to establish farms,’ the governor said.

“The people tried it in 2024, but it is not enough. The production of 2024 should be the seeds of 2025 farming. I want you people to farm for what you will eat and sell the surplus.”

“Do it yourself and your government will provide security for you. I want you to eradicate hunger because hunger makes people hate each other. Its promotes reckless talk and violence.”

The governor’s appeal mirrors that of President Kiir – when he said the government would embark on agriculture to enhance food security, while assuring the country of his commitment to address hunger.

Kiir directed the Ministry of Agriculture to redouble its efforts and support the farmers across the country to boost and improve productivity.

Governor Rin further pointed out that peace dialogues have been initiated between neighboring Tonj East, and Tonj North counties of  Warrap State, and Pakam in Rumbek North and Cueibet in Lakes State, to facilitate peaceful

South Sudan’s economy depends almost entirely on revenue from oil export through neighboring Sudan.

However, the civil war that erupted in Khartoum in April 2023 and the subsequent withdrawal of Malaysian oil firm Petronas, have severely disrupted the oil production and sale, depriving the country’s coffers of oil income.

For the past year, civil servants and members of the organized forces in South Sudan have not been paid more than 10 months of their salaries as the national government struggled to meet its expenditures.

UN agencies have warned of an alarming humanitarian crisis in South Sudan where more than half the country’s population will go hungry in 2025.