[PHOTOS] – Yei Farmers Reap Big But Can’t Sell

(YEI, CENTRAL EQUATORIA) – Farmers in Yei River County are reporting a strong first season crop yield, thanks to timely support from non governmental organisations (NGOs) and favourable weather. However, they are also facing significant challenges related to post harvest handling and low market demand.

Local farmers attributed the high yields to improved agricultural training and distribution of farm tools. Grace Tabu, a local maize grower, said her family has been harvesting high quality maize, describing it as one of their best seasons in recent years.

“I am now harvesting my maize grains, and every day, my family is in the field collecting and drying them. We are grateful to God for the good quality,” Grace said.

Despite the good harvest, Grace said she will store and process her crops to sell at a later time due to low current market demand. She also called on the government to focus on peace and stability to enable more agricultural productivity.

Lubari Samul, another farmer from Gimunu, voiced similar sentiments. He noted that while they are harvesting maize, groundnuts, vegetables, watermelon and pumpkin, many of the crops are not fetching good prices due to oversupply and limited access to broader markets.

“We want to supply our markets in Yei with natural food, but market demand is very low. The road to Juba needs grading so that we can transport and sell our crops there,” Lubari said.

The biggest hurdles, according to Lubari, are poor post harvest handling, lack of proper storage facilities and bad roads. He believes that better infrastructure would allow farmers to expand their market access to places like Juba, helping them to earn from their hard work.

Asiki Isaac, the Director of Agriculture for Yei River County, confirmed the success of the first harvest through ongoing field visits and market assessments. He attributed the success to technical training sessions and radio programmes that promoted best farming practices among local communities.

“This harvest has been one of the best in recent times. Maize, cassava, groundnuts, beans and other cereals have performed well. However, post harvest losses remain a concern,” said Asiki.

Asiki explained that his team is actively visiting farms and holding meetings to educate farmers on basic harvesting and storage techniques to prevent spoilage. He also urged them to prepare for the second planting season, which begins in August and September.

Yei River County lies within South Sudan’s green belt region, an area known for its rich soil and favourable climate, making it one of the country’s most suitable zones for agriculture.