Vegetables on sale at Konyo-konyo market in Juba - credit | Moyo Jacob/Eye Radio | April 19, 2022

Warrap State Information Minister said on Thursday that the local population lack purchasing power due to the delays in civil servants’ salaries, despite reduced market prices after a good harvest.

Wol Mayom said a kilogram of sorghum and groundnuts that used to cost 2,000 pounds each, are now being sold at a thousand pounds.

The state government spokesperson attributes the drop in food prices to bumper agricultural harvest this year.

However, Mayom said civil servants are struggling to purchase the organic farm produce due to lack of money.

“These days, things are okay since the harvest was out only the government employees are suffering because the salaries delayed and they are asking the government to be paid because it is their right,” he said.

“But generally, the situation of economy based on observation is okay and there is significant improvement of economic in the market only that people do not have money to buy from the market.”

Civil servants and members of the organized forces across the country have not received salaries for more than three months since July 2023.

The national Ministry of Finance and Planning blames the situation on the delay in passing the fiscal year budget and the failure of some agencies to submit their reports on time.