By Yiep Joseph
The government has unveiled a plan to involve youth in agricultural cooperatives and engage school-going children in farming groups to promote agriculture across the country.
During the launch of Plan International’s five-year country strategy (2025-2030) on Wednesday, Hussein Abdelbagi Akol, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, reiterated that the government’s initiatives to promote agriculture, particularly farming, also encompass young people.
Addressing participants, Minister Abdelbagi reaffirmed the government’s support for agricultural cooperatives.
The Minister urged youth-led groups engaged in agriculture to seek government support.
“I am ready to cooperate with them [youth]. Regarding the tractors I brought, if they [youth] are in cooperatives or groups and are ready, I can give them to help them with farming,” Abdelbagi revealed.
The Minister added that as part of efforts to increase food production, his ministry would engage schools to ensure the establishment of school farms.
“Also, in my strategy for this year, I am advocating for school farming. We want these youth groups to be organized and join us in agriculture to boost the country’s economy and food security,” he added.
However, the Minister did not disclose the specific number of tractors to be distributed to youth or the total number of beneficiaries.
He emphasized that involving youth and learners in schools to have their own farms would not only increase food production but also contribute to food stability in schools, as they would be consuming food they produce themselves.
In a move to bolster food productivity and reduce reliance on imported food supplies, the government procured 104 tractors for farming in April of this year.
The consignment, delivered by Aditya International Company, was officially received by the National Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abdalbagi Akol.
In 2024, President Salva Kiir stated that the government would prioritize agriculture in 2025, directing the Ministry of Roads and Bridges to rehabilitate and construct roads connecting Juba to the agriculture-rich Western Equatoria State. In his New Year’s address, Kiir reiterated government efforts to boost food production in the country.
“The Ministry of Roads and Bridges is to rehabilitate and construct roads leading to Western Equatoria to enable farmers to access the market,” he said.
“In the year 2025, the government will prioritize agriculture to enhance our food security. I am therefore directing the Ministry of Agriculture to double efforts to support farmers across the country to improve yield. The Ministry of Roads and Bridges is to rehabilitate and construct roads leading to Western Equatoria to enable farmers to access the market.”
Kiir expressed that the rehabilitation of roads leading to Western Equatoria State would ensure that Juba and other neighboring towns receive food items produced within the country.
The President also directed the army to provide security on the roads to ensure the safety of farmers and travelers in general.
“The Ministry of Defense is to make sure all illegal checkpoints along the roads and rivers are removed, and the security and safety of travelers are guaranteed,” he said.