By Hou Akot Hou
Northern Bahr El Ghazal state governor officially launched the harvest of rice grains at Aweil Rice plantation Scheme.
The official start of the rice plantation harvest on Thursday, November 16, 2023, demonstrates the state government’s priorities in fighting hunger through various methods, including rice farming.
In a statement from the office of the governor seen by this outlet, Tong Aken Ngor, together with some of his cabinet ministers, visited the Aweil Rice Scheme to officiate the maiden harvest of the farm.
Speaking at the rice farm, the governor encouraged the farmers to invest in rice production, adding that the state is trying hard to ensure that food insecurity is fought on all fronts.
Against all odds, Mr. Tong encouraged the rice farmers to cultivate more hectares to mitigate hunger in the state, which is the biggest problem that the residents are worried about.
The governor expressed his commitment to addressing challenges such as working hard to support agriculture and improving education and health sectors, among others.
On his part, the state minister of agriculture, Mr. Anei Deng Akok, outlined the challenges that the local farmers who invest in rice are facing.
He highlighted, among others, the lack of proper tools and implements to help the farmers gain good production in the rice scheme.
Mr. Anei also underscored challenges such as the changes in climate, which have hugely contributed to poor yields this year, which, to him, need to be taken into account to ensure that rice production is enhanced.
The Aweil rice scheme is one of the national agricultural megaprojects, which is seen as the lifeline to improve food security in the country.
It is one of the oldest projects that has been in existence for ages, and the government needs to do more to improve its production.