Yei County Farmers Trained on Medicinal Plants

(YEI RIVER COUNTY) – More than 500 residents in Yei River County are being trained in modern medicinal crop farming by a local organisation known as God Loves You Initiative.

The organisation’s Executive Director, Suzan Night Philip, told Access Radio on Thursday that the programme was introduced after realising that Artemisia, a medicinal plant, is in high demand among regional and international pharmaceutical research and production firms.

Suzan explained that the organisation is providing farmers with seeds, seedlings and training to help them grow and process the crop. She said the plant not only helps to treat common illnesses through herbal remedies but also offers communities new opportunities for income generation.

According to Suzan, scientific studies have shown that Artemisia is effective in treating fever, malaria, digestive problems and bacterial infections. She added that the plant also reduces inflammation, strengthens the immune system and may help with hepatitis C when taken regularly.

She gave an example of a patient in Yei who had suffered from hepatitis C and reportedly recovered after taking Artemisia for three months.

Last year, farmers supported by the project processed at least 230 kilograms of Artemisia. The product was sold to regional buyers in the Democratic Republic of Congo, giving farmers a new source of income.

Suzan said the plant has potential for wider benefits if cultivated and processed in larger quantities. She explained that essential oils can be extracted from Artemisia and sold at higher prices in regional and international markets.

She encouraged local residents to combine the farming of Artemisia with food crops so that the community can improve both health and livelihoods.

One farmer, Emmanuel Gift, who has started growing Artemisia in Yei River County, said he is already using it within his household. He shared that the plant was made into tea and helped to treat a family member suffering from hepatitis C.

Gift appealed to organisations like God Loves You Initiative to continue supporting farmers with seeds, processing tools and market connections to make Artemisia farming sustainable.

He said Yei’s fertile soil provides an opportunity not only for food production but also for medicinal crops. Gift revealed that he has already started multiplying Artemisia seeds in preparation for larger scale farming next year.

Table: Artemisia Farming in Yei