Lainya Farmers Demand Answers Over Missing Donated Tractors

(LAINYA COUNTY) – Farmers in South Sudan’s Lainya County are calling on the state government to account for farm tractors donated to the county three years ago, saying the equipment has never reached the intended beneficiaries.

Several progressive farmers and farming groups claim the tractors have been diverted for personal use by influential individuals, denying the wider farming community access to mechanised agricultural support.

Lako Morrish, a local farmer, said repeated inquiries to county agricultural officials have yielded little information.

“We have repeatedly been told that some of the tractors broke down, while others are being used by undisclosed senior officials. These tractors were donated by Governor Adil several years ago, but as farmers, we have never seen them in the county. We do not know where they are. Our appeal to the state government is to ensure the tractors are handed over to genuine farmer groups rather than city-based politicians,” he said.

Another cooperative farmer, Hakim Bethuel, said the donated tractors had failed to serve their intended purpose because they are nowhere to be found on the ground.

“We heard that tractors were donated by the state government and others by UNHCR, but up to now we do not know their whereabouts. We urge the authorities to investigate what happened to these tractors, repair those that are not functioning, and make them available to farmers,” Bethuel said.

The farmers noted that access to tractors would significantly improve agricultural productivity, increase food production, and help address food insecurity in the county.

Responding to the concerns, Central Equatoria State Governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony directed county authorities to locate the tractors and ensure they are allocated to farmer cooperatives across Lainya County.

“We have two donated tractors, and I was also informed that another was donated by UNHCR. I want Commissioner Huda to find these tractors. If they are being kept in someone’s home, they should be brought back to the county headquarters. If any are damaged, they must be repaired and given to cooperative farmer groups. These tractors were meant to support farmers in the county, not individuals,” the governor said.

Governor Adil further stressed the importance of maintaining the equipment and ensuring that farmers in all five payams of Lainya County benefit from the tractors as originally intended.