Eastern Equatoria farmers listed a number of challenges that affect their efforts to increase food production in the state and asked assistance from the Government.
Farmers’ representative Oneka Francis said at the end of the three-days state agricultural trade show that multiple taxes, poor roads and lack of extension services were among the challenges farmers faced in Eastern Equatoria, Emmanuel Radio reported.
He added that the farmers demanded an end to imports of food from neighbouring countries since the state produces enough food.
Director General in the Ministry of Agriculture Ann Itwar noted that South Sudan spends five million pounds on cooking oil and 3.5 million on maize and sorghum imports every year.
Eastern Equatoria Agriculture Minister John Ochan Bongomin ruled out a ban on food imports.
He described imports and exports as ways of creating harmony among nations.
The minister advised farmers to increase production to a sufficient level to compete in the market.
Mr Ochan announced that all ministry officials would be deployed to counties and payams.
He said the move aimed to bridge the gap of extension workers to provide services to farmers in rural areas.