Western Equatoria State officials, the Azande Kingdom and development partners have called for increased investment in agriculture to boost commercial farming, improve food security and raise farmers’ incomes.
The call was made on Friday during World Food Day celebrations at Freedom Square in Yambio, where farmers exhibited produce, including maize, rice, honey, vegetables, chickens and goats, while highlighting challenges such as inadequate storage facilities and limited market access.
Joel Binza, a representative of Star Trust Organization, said the exhibition enabled farmers to sell directly to consumers, reducing reliance on middlemen and potentially increasing their earnings.
Abakr Rajab, the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) field officer in Western Equatoria, urged the government, development partners and humanitarian agencies to coordinate efforts to tackle hunger and strengthen farmers’ resilience.
He called for improved access to quality seeds, agricultural inputs and technical training to increase production.
Tadeo Mario Sasa, prince of the Azande Kingdom, said greater investment in farming, storage and transportation is needed to move farmers from subsistence production to commercial agriculture. He said the kingdom is working with the government to facilitate access to farmland.
Western Equatoria State Agriculture Minister Gibson Bullen Wande urged development partners to provide farming tools, improved inputs, technical assistance and mechanized equipment. He also called on the Azande Kingdom to make sufficient land available for cultivation.
World Food Day is observed annually on Oct. 16 to raise awareness of hunger and promote food security and nutrition.
Western Equatoria’s Green Belt supports the cultivation of maize, rice, groundnuts and cassava. The state has agricultural potential, but limited storage and market access remain challenges for farmers.
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