Jonglei State Governor Kuol Manyang Juuk has taken a lead in sensitising local communities on the need to embrace agricultural production. [ Gurtong/ Jacob Achiek Jok]
By Jacob Achiek Jok
BOR, 19 June 2012 [Gurtong] – State Governor Kuol Manyang Juuk has assured residents that the security situation has normalised and encouraged those who had abandoned their homes to return as most had done.
“The disarmament that has been going on for the last three months have provided a peaceful and conducive environment for people to return to their homes and engage in agriculture. No one should fear and any scattered cases of insecurity will be addressed accordingly”, he said.
The Governor said l agricultural production will drastically reduce dependence on imports, which he said were beyond the reach of many households.
“It is better to have our own food supplies instead of depending on imports that are costly”. Producing our own will lead to affordable market prices”, he said.
Local residents, have however, expressed concerns with the lack of agricultural inputs, saying most are willing to engage in agriculture should they have access to seeds and equipment.
“The Ministry of Agriculture has not given us seeds and farming tools. As a result we have been left to struggle on our own. Our land is very fertile owing to its proximity to the river and we would want to grow our own crops to support our livelihoods”, said a farmer from Nyinmajok, Amer Mayen Lual.