The government’s recent procurement of 104 tractors to support farmers across South Sudan has drawn praise from Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO).
While acknowledging the move as a positive step toward boosting food production, Yakani cautioned against corruption in their distribution, stressing the need for transparency and accountability to ensure the tractors benefit genuine farmers.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Hussein Abdelbagi Akol, announced the procurement during an inspection of the tractors in Juba, and stated that the initiative aligns with the Economic Cluster’s resolution to enhance food production nationwide.
“These tractors will be delivered to farmers, and we expect them to commit to tangible agricultural work this season. We are starting with 104 tractors,” Minister Akol declared.
Yakani welcomed the move, applauding the government, the Economic Cluster, and Vice President for prioritizing agricultural investment.
“This is walking the talk, something we have long advocated for. Congratulations to the Vice President and the Economic Cluster for making agricultural development a reality,” he said.
However, Yakani urged authorities to ensure that the tractors are distributed fairly, recalling past cases where similar efforts were marred by mismanagement, resulting in what he termed the “Tractor Saga.”
“We hope these 104 tractors will not suffer the same fate. They must not be sold off or misused, creating a second Tractor Saga,” he warned.
He emphasized the importance of targeting genuine farmers rather than politically connected individuals. “The distribution must be conducted transparently, with proper monitoring systems in place to hold individuals accountable for any misuse,” Yakani stated.
Additionally, he underscored the necessity of ensuring spare parts availability to maintain the tractors’ functionality. “Tractors are meaningless without spare parts. They must be given to the right people in the right places to make a real impact,” he added.
Calling for heightened oversight by both the Vice President and Minister of Agriculture to guarantee that the tractors fulfill their intended purpose, Yakani stated, “As civil society, we will monitor the distribution and usage of these tractors to ensure accountability.”
While the move marked a significant step towards hunger eradication, insecurity remains a core question likely to hinder the realization of the intended objective. However, Yakani said the solution lies in the implementation of the peace agreement.
