The Bishop of the Diocese of Terekeka in Central Equatoria State has appealed to the local and national governments to come to the aid of the people of Terekeka County after rains skipped for over a month, leaving farmers counting losses.
Bishop Paul Modi Farjala told Radio Tamazuj that the local population is facing the worst hunger in a long time.
“The rainy season this year is a problem,” he lamented. “Some farmers started cultivation, but now their crops are burning due to lack of rain; there is no hope for crop production this year in Terekaka.”
The people of Terekeka depend on subsistence farming, and we have only one season of farming yearly. The people will more likely face hunger,” Bishop Modi added.
He appealed to the government and its partners to intervene and support the people of Terekeka with aid, since the church has no capacity to rescue the situation.
Meanwhile, John Modong Santino, who served as agriculture minister in the defunct Terekeka State, said farmers in the area face a bleak season because of delayed rains, which have damaged crops and disrupted farming activities.
“There is no hope for farmers this season because the rains came late,” Santino said.
“I used to farm using tractors, but because of the delayed rains this year, I came to Juba to look for other opportunities since there is no work at home now. The situation for civilians in Terekeka is dire. My groundnut crop has been scorched by the sun, and I am not the only one affected. Farms across the area have suffered the same fate,” he added.
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