By Matik Kueth
The Governor of Lakes State, Rin Tueny, has called on the national government to prioritize the agricultural sector by increasing funding and supporting the development of training centers across the country.
Speaking at the Eighth Governors’ Forum in Juba on Thursday, Tueny emphasized the critical role agriculture could play in South Sudan’s economic growth.
He urged the government to focus on establishing, renovating, and constructing agricultural training centers to boost the sector’s productivity.
“The national government should increase funding for the development of the state agricultural sectors, support the establishment and renovation and construction of agricultural training centers,” Tueny said.
Tueny stressed the need to collaborate with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to promote locally produced seeds, provide subsidies for state farmers, and encourage foreign investment in agriculture.
“The national government and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) should promote locally produced seeds, provide and subsidies by state farmers, and extend direct foreign investment in Agriculture,” he stated.
The need for more agricultural assistance coincides with President Salva Kiir’s declaration that increasing agricultural output is a primary goal of the South Sudanese government.
In September 2024, President Kiir pledged to increase investment in agricultural infrastructure and promote local farmers in order to improve food security and self-sufficiency in South Sudan during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) conference in Beijing.
Kiir underlined the significance of creating sustainable agricultural systems to guarantee food security and generate income for the country’s expanding population.
Tueny’s remarks are in line with the emerging understanding that the long-term stability and growth of South Sudan depend on the country’s agriculture sector being strengthened.