South Sudan’s Senior Presidential Advisor, Kuol Manyang, has urged South Sudanese, especially the youth, to embrace farming as a key strategy in combating hunger.
With UN agencies warning of food shortages in the country, Manyang has taken the lead in advocating for agriculture.
Over the weekend, he visited his farm in Mathiang Jook, Jonglei State, where he personally cleared and tilled the land, demonstrating his commitment to farming.
In a statement shared with the media, Manyang encouraged politicians, young people, and the general public to actively participate in agriculture, emphasizing its role in improving livelihoods and strengthening families.
“Let us not waste our strength on conflict,” he said. “Together, we can build our nation through hard work and farming. Empty talk harms the country, but hard work helps it flourish.”
Manyang further urged young people to abandon unproductive activities such as playing dominoes, which he believes waste valuable time, calling on the state government to implement strict regulations discouraging idleness in urban areas.
His call aligns with the government’s broader push for agricultural development. This year, authorities have prioritized farming initiatives to enhance economic growth and reduce food insecurity.
In April, the government procured 104 tractors to support farmers with Deputy Agriculture Minister Lily Albino Akol, reaffirming the government’s commitment to equipping farmers for the rainy season.
“We will deliver to farmers, and we also want them to be skilled and committed so that we can start tangible work this season, he stated upon receiving the tractors,” Lily told the state-run South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) recently.
This initiative follows President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s pledge in 2024 to prioritize agriculture. In his New Year’s address, Kiir directed the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to enhance support for farmers to boost yields.
“In 2025, the government will prioritize agriculture to enhance our food security. I am therefore directing the Ministry of Agriculture to double its efforts to support farmers across the country, President Kiir declared,” President Kiir said.
Additionally, the President ordered the Ministry of Roads and Bridges to rehabilitate key routes leading to Western Equatoria to facilitate market access for farmers. He also instructed the Ministry of Defense to remove illegal checkpoints along roads and rivers to ensure the security of travelers.
With these efforts, South Sudan’s leadership is positioning agriculture as a cornerstone for economic growth and food security, urging citizens to seize the opportunity and contribute to national development.
However, the persistent insecurity remains the biggest challenge to the realization of food security in South Sudan. Mounting calls on the leaders to implement the peace accord have proved to be yielding no fruit as violence raged in most parts of the country.
