By James Innocent
The Central Equatoria State Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Environment, Lili Kafuki, has called on citizens of Yei River County to prioritize farming as a solution to hunger and economic hardship in the region.
Speaking at the launch of a multi-farmers’ community centre in Gimunu, Ms. Kafuki said her ministry has already submitted new legislation to parliament aimed at addressing agricultural challenges across the state.
She highlighted the important role of women in food production, noting that they constitute nearly 80 percent of the farming population but continue to face barriers to land ownership and financial resources.
“Women should be given the opportunity to participate fully in agriculture so they can support men in boosting food production through cooperative societies,” Ms. Kafuki said.
Yei River County Commissioner Emmanuel Taban Seme praised the state ministry, the World Bank, and other partners for investing in agriculture, stressing that peace remains a prerequisite for farming to thrive.
“Many people in Yei depend on farming. Peace is essential if they are to resume productive agricultural activities,” Mr. Taban said, while appealing to armed groups to end hostilities so displaced families can return to their homes and farmland.
The Executive Chief of Gimunu Boma, Lowuya Morish, echoed the call for youth to avoid idleness and engage in agriculture. He also appealed to development partners to extend support to all five payams of Yei County.
Local farmer Batali Jackson Denis, representing cooperative societies, welcomed the initiative but pointed out persistent challenges, including lack of mobility, limited capital, and poor-quality seeds.
“We face difficulties upgrading our farms to generate more income for the community. Many times, the seeds we receive from some partners have problems with germination,” Denis said, urging government and development partners to provide reliable seeds and tools.
Despite the challenges, Denis encouraged fellow farmers to remain resilient:
“I advise my fellow farmers to continue with agriculture despite the hardships brought by the current economic situation” He said.
The community centre was established by Rural Women International in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It aims to bring together national, state, and county authorities to strengthen