Farmers in Mugwo Call for Improved Security and Market Access to Boost Food Production

(MUGWO PAYAM, YEI RIVER COUNTY) – Farmers in Mugwo Payam of Yei River County are urging the government to strengthen security, improve road infrastructure and expand market opportunities to increase agricultural production and combat food insecurity.

The farmers say that although local communities are committed to food production, persistent insecurity, poor road networks and limited access to markets continue to hinder efforts to reduce poverty and hunger.

Lilian Maneno, a farmer in Mugwo, said farmers are ready to contribute to national food security if favourable conditions are created.

“Farmers are ready to engage in crop production to help reduce poverty and food shortages across the country. Our call to the government is to stabilise security, restore peace, open roads and improve marketing networks within the country and the region,” she said.

Maneno also thanked Yei River County Commissioner Samuel Henry Malimbo for visiting the area and listening to concerns raised by local farmers during a recent tour to Mugwo market.

Another farmer, Morrish Taban, called on the government and development partners to invest in mechanised farming to help address food insecurity across South Sudan.

“Yei has fertile soil and can produce enough food for the country if the government restores security, supports mechanised farming, grades roads, provides quality seeds and construct storage facilities for farmers in the villages,” Taban said.

Local trader Alex Ramadan, who recently visited Mugwo Market, praised the quality of agricultural products produced in the area and appealed for lasting peace to enable farmers to focus on cultivation.

“I came here to buy food products for sale and found quality maize being sold at affordable prices. I call on the government to improve security and support farmers so that we can buy food locally instead of importing from Uganda,” he said.

Ramadan further urged the government and humanitarian organisations to provide farmers with timely access to seeds, farm implements and other agricultural inputs to increase production.

Yei River County Commissioner Samuel Henry Malimbo has repeatedly reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to restoring peace and stability across the county to enable farmers to engage fully in agriculture and improve their livelihoods.

Malimbo described the people of Yei River County as hardworking agriculturalists whose livelihoods depend largely on farming.

“The people of Yei River County are known as agriculturalists and God-fearing people in South Sudan,” Malimbo said, while emphasising the need for stronger support to local farmers.

The Commissioner also called on the national and state governments, as well as humanitarian partners, to provide agricultural equipment and other forms of assistance to boost local food production.

Meanwhile, Yei River County Director of Agriculture Asiki Isaac reported a successful first harvest season, describing crop yields as encouraging despite the challenges facing the agricultural sector.

He urged farmers to remain committed to production and take advantage of the county’s favourable farming conditions.

Yei River County, located in South Sudan’s fertile Green Belt region, is widely regarded as one of the country’s major food-producing areas due to its rich soils and favourable climate for agriculture.