By Kidega Livingstone
The Azande Kingdom, under the leadership of His Majesty Atoroba Peni Rikito Gbudue, has transported a truckload of watermelon to supply markets in Juba.
Speaking to journalists after the arrival of the watermelon truck, Sebit Angelo, the Minister of Azande Kingdom Representing other tribes, said this was just the beginning of transporting various food crops and fruits to Juba.
According to Sebit, the Azande Kingdom has opened over 300 acres of farmland in Yambio, Iba, and Ezo, where communities are busy cultivating to ensure food availability in the markets of Juba and other major towns.
“What we are seeing is that if there is enough food and a good road, there will be no insecurity because people will be busy cultivating, which is why His Majesty encourages our Azande community to engage in farming,” Sebit said.
However, Sebit noted that the main challenges they face are paying workers, transportation, and the poor state of roads.
He mentioned that the truck that brought the watermelon was provided by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and appealed for well-wishers to support the Azande farmers with farming tools.
James Kutiyote, one of the Azande community leaders in Juba, said that in the near future, other food crops like maize and various fruits will start arriving in Juba as an initiative of the Azande Kingdom.
Speaking in September 30, King Atoroba addressed the Avungara clan of the Azande people and advised all the clans within the kingdom, especially those in Yambio and other towns, to grow and promote traditional food crops.
The king emphasized the importance of respecting the culture of everyone living in the kingdom and underscored the need to grow cultural foods like Mapese (rice), palm oil, papaya, cassava leaves (Gadia), millet, Simsim, Dura, traditional beans, sugarcane, and some fruits.
King Atoroba tasked the Avungara clan and other tribes in the kingdom to grow traditional foods to sell the culture of the Azande people or the people of Western Equatoria state as a whole.
He promised to call all the Azande clans to register and support the necessary needs that promote the culture and its diversity.