By Hou Akot Hou
Northern Bahr el Ghazal (NBG) state governor, Tong Aken Ngor has urged agriculture minister to ensure distribution of seeds to farmers in Aweil to boost farming especially the rice scheme as the planting season starts.
He made the directives on Wednesday during a meeting with the minister of Agriculture Anei Deng Akok to discuss plans of seeds distribution.
Governor Tong was briefed on plans and initiatives taken by the agriculture ministry, Rice Scheme departments on the farming activities which is about to start.
Speaking to the media after the meeting on Wednesday, Mr. Tong said he hopes to see to it that all farmers go for farming as soon as the rain season starts.
“We discussed the way forward on how to defeat hunger in the state. Rice scheme did a good role last year and now we want to ensure that our people go to the farms,” he said.
He added “I have directed the minister for agriculture to do massive campaign on farming and ask the partners to distribute seeds fairly.”
On his part, the minister of Agriculture Anei Deng Akok said they are looking forward to ensure that challenges such as tractors which don’t have spare parts are fixed.
“I have presented challenges like the lack of spare parts for the tractors. Some have broken down and we ask the partners to support us on those issues,” he disclosed.
Anei also said that 41 rain-gauges have been installed in some Payams and state headquarters to measure the raindrops this year.
He stated that the agricultural partners have started enlisting the farmers and they are beginning to distribute seeds in all the counties to ensure that farming starts.