Some of the government officials in Torit call on citizens to engage in cash crops production to boost development in Eastern Equatoria State.
Minister of Animal Resources, Fisheries and Tourism, Reverend Angelo William Geri, during the launch of seeds distribution in the state, urged citizens to produce more cash crops to supply Juba.
He calls for support to women who devoted themselves to cultivation so that they produce more foods in the state
“I think this is the right time for our people to fight hunger from Eastern Equatoria, and I thank FAO for bringing these inputs at the right time, this is the beginning of the rain, and I think we should go swiftly to do work, it is not only for feeding but we should produce more even for the market, Torit is the nearest to capital city Juba, so we should be able to even supply Juba so that we get that money from Juba to Torit, like this we will be able to develop faster, so let us see and work hand in hand, I can see today three quarter are women, so it is good we support our women for us to achieve the goal of food in our houses”, he elaborates.
Anna Itwari Felix, Director in the State Ministry of Agriculture calls on citizens to expand their lands for cultivation to produce more food.
She believes that there is money in farming that will change and improve the standard of citizens’ lives.
“Today we are very happy because it is the day we are coming to take seeds, let us dig and plan the seed, let us extend the land for our cultivation, let us learn to cultivate for market for money, farming can bring a lot of money at home when we work hard, from now we want to say after some years we should be the one to bring seeds in the market, not every day we keep on receiving seeds, so dig more and send to the market and also dig for seeds production, this is the piece of advice we can give you today”, Director for agriculture Itwari pleads
Meanwhile Tafiqul Islam, head of field office for FAO discloses that in five-day time, they will distribute seeds to three thousand five hundred households in Torit and fishing kits to one thousand five hundred households to help boost food production in the state.
“Today we are giving Nyong Payam beneficiaries and total are three hundreds households actually getting inputs today and from now we will continue may be four or five days, and giving about three thousands five hundreds households, the all farmers receive crops kits and vegetable kits and at the same time some of the beneficiaries about one thousand four hundreds will receive fishing kits, so I hope after getting these inputs, these people will get benefits for their plantation purpose and at the same time get their food”, FAO representative reveals.
The Minister for Agriculture Placid Koks Komakech says the seeds distributed by FAO is tested and will produce good yields.
He cautions citizens against eating the seeds because they are poisonous.
“This seed is poisonous, because of its poison doesn’t wash and put on fire boiling it and cooking it, no its dangerous, FAO has done good because FAO has tested these seeds and understand very well that the yield will be okay, you will have a better harvest this year than that last year”, Koks notes.
The speakers made the remarks during the launch of seeds distribution at the Torit Municipal Council in Eastern Equatoria State.