Commissioner Abel Opens Over 40 Fedans of Cash Crops to Stop Dependency on Imported Food

Commissioner Abel Opens Over 40 Fedans of Cash Crops to Stop Dependency on Imported Food

As South Sudan continues to import most of its processed food commodities from the neighboring countries coupled with the current fluctuation in the market, the commissioner of Ezo County Abel Sudan, and his community have embarked on a plantation of more than 40 Fedans of cash crops, to avoid depending on imported food.

Commissioner Abel Sudan says the community of Ezo County through his leadership has dedicated to opening up 45 Fedans of cash crops including coffee, groundnuts, Sim-sim, maize, and beans among others.   

Abel added that the initiative is also aiming to contribute to the economy of South Sudan by planting varieties of cash crops to avoid importing food commodities.  

He says through the efforts of the local community, they have managed to raise 35,000 seedlings of coffee which is ready for plantation.  

He was speaking on Sunday during the visit of his lordship Bishop Edwardo Hiiboro to bless the 45 Fedans as the community starts planting.

“We also want to contribute to the economy of South Sudan; we want to contribute to the economy of our state, particularly our county”, Abel revealed.

The Ezo county commissioner reveals his leadership commitment to engaging the locals to plant more cash crops as a remedy to poverty.   

He says the initiative of 45 Fedans is helping hundreds of youths to get support for their survival as they work and get paid, hence reducing the rate of crimes in the county.

“I plan to change the lives of the people of Ezo County through agriculture and want also to minimize the rate of crime. Once the young people are on the farm, when they are working for something for the bread that they can eat, it will not leave them to go and begin laying ambushes on the road and start looting. At least in this farm, every week hundreds of youths are getting some little support from here for their survival”, he added.     

On the other hand, Bishop Hiiboro applauded the initiative terming it a positive step towards the economy of the local population of Ezo County, and called on the community to embrace the initiative.

“I congratulated the commissioner for what he has started. I’m impressed by the size, the commitment, and the plan shown. I am encouraging the citizens of Ezo to see from their servant leader, showing to people by action let the people impressed”.

The prelate further noted that agriculture is the only narrative of South Sudan's work. 

In 2021, Ezo County was hit by an influx of displaced persons from Tombura County as they escaped the then inter-communal conflict there. Also Ezo County borders two countries including Central Africa republic and the Democratic republic of Congo.