Farmers, state officials and U.N. agencies gathered in Rumbek on Thursday to mark World Food Day with an exhibition of local produce, emphasizing a collective effort to fight hunger and boost agriculture in Lakes State.
The event, held under the theme “hand in hand for better food and a better future,” took place at Rumbek Freedom Square.
Onica Ayor Anyor Makuac, a farmer from Yirol East county, said she traveled to the exhibition to showcase her group’s products, including sorghum and groundnuts.
“We have brought all these products for exhibition so that everyone in Lakes State can see our local produce,” Makuac said. “Cultivation is the best and it brings change to us. Now we are able to send our children to school.”
She urged the government and agricultural partners to provide more farming tools, such as hoes and ox-plows.
“Without food, you cannot stand your ground,” she said. “Cultivation is very important.”
Another farmer, Dhieu Makuac from Wulu county, said his sales of sweet potatoes, yams and groundnuts are going well. He called on unemployed people in town to take up farming.
“People who are sitting idly inside the town stay without food because to get food to eat is a problem,” he said.
Hannington Sebabduka, head of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) field office in Rumbek, said the event highlighted work with partners to increase productivity.
“We believe the private sector and market are central to our ability in transforming the agri-food system,” Sebabduka said. He thanked development partners including the World Food Programme, UNICEF and Plan International for their collaboration.
Poth Majak Daljang, Lakes State’s Minister of Agriculture, said the celebration marked a transition from emergency aid to food production.
“We are appealing to our donors, to our partners to continue supporting our farmers in improving food production,” Daljang said. He noted that farmers face challenges from climate change, including floods that have destroyed farms, and a lack of farming tools.
Stephen Mathiang Deng, the state Minister of Cabinet Affairs, linked the agricultural output to improved peace and security.
“This is the result of peace because without peace you would not have gained this chance of high-yield food production,” Deng said. “Congratulations to our farmers who worked tirelessly to have food on their tables and surplus in the market.”