Farmers and Officials Meet on Security in Yei

(YEI RIVER COUNTY) – Local authorities in Yei River County, together with the Central Equatoria State Ministry of Peacebuilding, farmer groups and community leaders, on Monday opened a farmers’ security dialogue in Yei aimed at improving relations between farming communities and the army and supporting food production.

The one day dialogue was organised by Let’s Go Farming Organization, a national organisation registered in Yei. The meeting focused on farmer safety, peaceful coexistence and how better security can help increase agricultural output and food availability in the county, which remains an important food producing area for Central Equatoria State and neighbouring regions, including parts of South Sudan that depend on supplies from Yei.

Opening the dialogue, the Commissioner of Yei River County, Emmanuel Taban Seme, encouraged residents to continue farming despite current challenges. He said food commodities had reduced in Yei this year, underlining the need for stronger local production to support household consumption and local markets. He urged farmers to work closely with Let’s Go Farming Organization to expand cultivation, reduce hunger and generate income from surplus produce.

The Director of the Agriculture Department in Yei River County, Asiki Isaac, said agricultural activity had improved compared to previous years. He reported that more than 400 hectares of land had been cultivated in and around Yei during the current farming season, reflecting growing confidence among farmers and gradual improvements in access to land.

Representing farmers, Yassin Moses outlined key challenges affecting productivity. He said limited access to finance continued to constrain young farmers who lack capital to buy tools, seeds and inputs. He also raised concerns about insecurity and the presence of multiple checkpoints, which he said disrupt movement and delay access to farmland, particularly during critical planting and harvesting periods.

The Central Equatoria State Minister of Peacebuilding, Jacob Aligo Lo Lado, said poverty remained one of the main barriers to agricultural development in the region. He called on communities to intensify farming while working together to maintain peace, noting that a secure environment allows farmers to move freely and cultivate their land without fear. He stressed that peace is a shared responsibility and highlighted the role of community elders in preventing conflict, warning that insecurity undermines livelihoods and long term development.

The Bishop of the ECSS Diocese of Yei, Rt Rev Levi Marandulu Yopete, also addressed participants and encouraged farmers to remain committed to agriculture. He described farming as central to human survival and community wellbeing, drawing on biblical teachings to emphasise the dignity of work and stewardship of land.

More than 60 participants from the five payams of Yei River County attended the dialogue. Organisers said the discussions were intended to strengthen trust between communities and security actors and to support farming as a foundation for food security and local economic stability in South Sudan.

Farmers Raise Security Concerns in Yei Talks