By Hou Akot Hou
Farmers in Aweil South County have received wheelbarrows; each of the 8 groups in the county gets 5 wheelbarrows to enable them to transport their produce.
This comes after a realization of a challenge posed by the lack of means to take goods to the market, as well as to water the seedlings, in a bid to ease the production and sale of vegetables.
A national NGO known as Farmers Lives Development Agency (FLDA) started distributing the implements on Wednesday to Aweil South vegetable farmers, which comprise 30 members from 8 groups, with each group allotted 5 wheelbarrows.
Dominic Deng, an extension worker with FLDA, noted that the distribution is meant to help promote their interest in horticulture or growing vegetables.
“Our aim is to help them transport their vegetables to the markets as well as to water their farms. This initiative is to promote resilience and avoid reliance on humanitarian distribution of food,” said Deng.
One of the beneficiaries, Adeng Bol, appreciates the organization, as they will carry on doing their work.
“We are so happy for this support from FLDA, and this will increase our production and getting the money as we shall be taking the vegetables to the markets here in Aweil South County,” said Ms. Bol.
She revealed that they have been undergoing the stressful task of carrying water from the water points on their heads, which didn’t favour some of the beneficiaries who returned to their homes as it became more burdensome for them.
International organizations encourage the local population to revert to the system of growing crops through subsistence farming during the dry season by irrigating small farms for vegetables to enable them to earn money to cater for their families.