Governor of Northern Bahr El Ghazal State, Simon Ober Mawut is seeking intervention from the national government to address challenges hindering developmental projects, particularly within the state’s vital agriculture sector.
Mr. Ober met with Vice President Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel, who also serves as Chairperson for the Economic Cluster, in Juba on Monday, during which he appealed for national support to boost agricultural production.
In a statement obtained by Standard Zone News, the Governor also highlighted several pressing issues confronting Northern Bahr El Ghazal, including an influx of returnees and refugees that has strained resources and contributed to rising commodity prices.
He emphasized that supporting the agricultural sector is essential to manage the challenges.
“He [Governor Ober] appealed for national support to enhance large-scale agricultural production during the current farming season,” the statement further elaborated.
In response, Vice President Dr. Bol Mel pledged the national government’s commitment ‘to help the state government address these pressing issues.’
This call for agricultural support comes as South Sudan, whose economy has long been heavily reliant on oil revenues, begins to shift towards the country’s vast agricultural potential.
Despite possessing large areas of arable land, plentiful water resources, and a climate conducive to farming, the agricultural sector has been under-resourced in favor of the oil industry.
However, the oil sector has recently faced disruptions due to the conflict in neighboring Sudan, which has affected major export pipelines.
Recognizing the potential of agriculture, the national government last month approved SSP 62 billion to enhance food production nationwide.
The funding would support “a 100-day farming activation exercise with an aim of boosting food production, revitalizing farming systems, and laying the foundation for long-term agricultural sustainability.”
Northern Bahr El Ghazal State is considered one of the key areas for national food security ambitions, particularly due to its historical prominence in rice production.
The Aweil Rice Scheme, established in 1944 and stretching over approximately 11,000 hectares, remains the country’s largest rice farm and a national project under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
