Photo Credit| Efuk Barnabas

A farmer in Eastern Equatoria State has appealed for government intervention after a prolonged drought destroyed crops and left communities in parts of Lafon and Imehejek area facing food shortages.

Efuk Barsabas, a farmer and agriculturalist from Lafon County, told Eye Radio that the dry spell, which lasted from May to mid-July, destroyed crops that were nearing harvest, including sorghum, finger millet, maize and sweet potatoes.

He said the drought affected Oming, Olongo, Ohutok, Greater Omiaha, Imehejek, villages in Northern Lopit including Arihilo, Lomiorok and Haba, as well as the Western Lopit villages of Longiro, Idali and Yeyahi, and other mountainous areas of Lopit.

“The entire farms have collapsed. Most of the farms were almost at the harvesting stage, but they were completely destroyed,” Barsabas said.

Barsabas said the situation across Lopit was dire, with many residents relying on wild fruits for survival.

According to Barsabas, nearly 1,000 people have left for neighbouring Uganda and Kenya, while others have moved to Torit and Juba in search of food and better living conditions.

He said those who remain are largely people who cannot afford transport to leave the area.

Barsabas appealed to the government to provide subsidized food commodities through cooperatives in Oming, Olongo, Ohutok, Greater Omiaha, Imehejek, Arihilo, Lomiorok, Haba, Longiro, Idali and Yeyahi.

He also called on the government to visit the affected communities and provide assistance to the most vulnerable residents.

“People are surviving on wild fruits, and even those are becoming difficult to find. Many families have migrated to Torit, Uganda and Kenya. If urgent food assistance does not come, we will see more deaths and more displacement,” he said.

Barsabas said farmers also need seeds and financial support to resume cultivation following recent rainfall after the drought destroyed their crops.

He said his own 32-acre farm was among those affected.