In this undated photo, women sell food commodities and other items. | Courtesy

The government is drafting a bill for the establishment of a Food Reserve Agency that will buy and store food surplus from farmers across the country, according to spokesperson Michael Makuei Lueth.

The National Information Minister told reporters that the Agriculture and Food Security Minister informed the regular Council of Ministers’ meeting on Friday about the plans.

He said once the yet-being-drafted bill is enacted into law, this paves the way for the establishment of the Food Reserve Agency.

Minister Makuei explains that the agency will implement yet-to-be laid down policies by the Food Security Council established by a Presidential order in 2008.

“South Sudan Food Reserve Agency is an agency for the implementation of the policies that will be laid down by Food Security Council, ” he said.

It will be responsible for buying food surplus from farmers during dry spell, storing and distributing the commodity across the country.

“This agency will be operationalizing the policies, and it is the body that will be responsible for the stores, and buying food and storing them and all these things.

“Once the bill is drafted, it will follow suit all the Food Security Council policies. This will pave the way for the establishment Market there ought to be also legislation thereafter for the operationalization,” he said.

South Sudan Food Security Council was established by Presidential Decree in October 2008.

The mandate is to ensure the overall alignment and harmonization of food security initiatives of the various line ministries and commissions, and to provide guidance for national food security policies.

Minister Makuei once effected, this will encourage the people of South Sudan to produce food.

“Of course, it is not there now, but with the establishment of this Council, it will encourage the people of South Sudan to produce so that this produce surplus.

“It will be bought from them and stored so that whenever there is a situation anywhere then that food can be rushed to the side to save the situation” Mr. Makuer added