By Hou Akot Hou
Ruweng Administrative Area on Saturday officially launched farming season in Abiemnhom.
Chief Administrator of Ruweng Administrative Area, Stephano Wieu De Malek, flagged off the initiative, aimed at cultivating 8,500 feddans.
The launch, attended by numerous officials and citizens, commenced with a display of mechanized tools, including tractors.
In a statement published on an official page seen by this publication, Wieu De Malek emphasised that the primary goal is to combat hunger and poverty solely through agricultural production.
He stressed the need to prioritize farming as the only viable investment for achieving food self-sufficiency.
“This time around, we need action across the entire Ruweng Administrative Area. The first priority to achieve is production; the second, third, fourth, and fifth are all about production,” Wieu De Malek declared.
“On behalf of the government of Ruweng, and on behalf of the President of the Republic and the Vice President of the Economic Cluster, their message is clear: we need to embark on food production,’ he added.
He further articulated the administration’s vision: “Our objective is that we must produce what we eat and eat what we produce. We have to do that here in Ruweng so that we are viably secure food-security-wise. And the more we produce, then we can give the surplus to the rest of the states in the country.”
Wieu De Malek also noted that while security, agriculture, and health remain priorities, the immediate focus is on the farming season.
He urged collective action to combat food insecurity and poverty that has “engulfed the local populace,” setting an example by providing tractors and committing to abundant food production by next year.
On his part, the Minister of Agriculture, Monylang Manyiel, affirmed their commitment to ensuring that all arable land will be tilled or cultivated to achieve food sufficiency next year.
“This year, 2025-2026, we have a clear goal for farming as we have started early,” Manyiel stated. “We have nearly 1,500 feddans across Ruweng and we aspire to work on it, but we have started with 8,500 as of now.”
Ruweng is one of the states grappling with insecurity in the country. The area recently experienced displacement, with residents fleeing to neighboring states due to attacks by armed youth.
The success of this farming initiative is therefore crucial for both food security and stability in the area.