Jonglei State Governor Kuol Manyang Juuk at the Marol Main Market in the state capital Bor. [Gurtong/ Jacob Achiek Jok]
By Jacob Achiek Jok
BOR, 01 July 2012 [Gurtong] - The State’s Director of Commerce and Supply KUol Monykuch Atem has said the over-reliance on imports continues to affect purchasing rates in the state.
Atem told Gurtong that the lack of food reserves in the state poses danger to the state population, with food and commodity prices doubling every day.
“If we have sufficient food reserves, we will be cushioned from the high prices of imported commodities. The market prices are higher this year because of the lack of food reserves”, he said.
He called upon state authorities to strategise on how to address the biting food shortage in the state.
He said the prices of commodities imported from the region including cooking oil, sorghum, rice, beans, maize flour, vegetables and building materials among others continue rising against high inflation rates currently being witnessed in South Sudan.
He urged the state residents to supplement government efforts to boost agricultural production in the state.