The Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative (WPDI) office in the Eastern Equatoria State capital, Torit, on Wednesday handed over a new structure housing vegetable stalls to the Torit Municipal Council.
The organization emphasized the importance of maintaining hygiene and proper sanitation at the facility.
In November of last year, hundreds of Torit residents celebrated the commencement of construction of a new main market, a project anticipated to significantly improve trading conditions and boost local commerce.
The construction was funded by Swiss partners through WPDI, but the exact cost of the project has not been disclosed. Local traders, especially women selling vegetables, described the previous market conditions as challenging and unhygienic.
David Dagu, Country Director for the Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative, stated during the handover that the shelter was constructed to empower women to create jobs for themselves by selling vegetables and sustaining their families.
“As you know, given the challenging world for humanitarian organizations, conditions are tough. However, we will share whatever support we can with you,” he said. “Building this vegetable shelter is primarily to help you become self-sufficient in your own endeavors, complementing the government’s development agenda and supporting your livelihoods.”
“To those responsible for this shelter, daily maintenance is essential to ensure it operates effectively and serves as an example for others in the town,” Dagu added.
For his part, Mr. Oyito Baptist, Mayor of the Torit Municipal Council, encouraged the market vendors to cultivate a variety of green vegetables to sell. He stressed the need for maintaining hygiene and sanitation in the new Torit vegetable market to ensure consumers can purchase clean and safe vegetables.
“It is not just about practicing subsistence farming; we want to shift towards commercial farming. We will no longer need to transport fresh vegetables from elsewhere into Torit; we should grow our own and sell them here,” he said. “For example, tomatoes, bananas, lemons, and peppers can be cultivated along the banks of the Hinatie River. Men should not just idle under trees while women bring vegetables to sell; they should engage in cultivation as women enter the market to support the family. This market is meant for all, and if you find someone already occupying a spot, place your vegetables down. We will continue to build the market to accommodate everyone.”
“It is vital to keep the area clean; if it becomes dirty, it is your responsibility to clean it. The Swiss agency will complete the project by fencing the vegetable market shelter,” Mayor Oyito added.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Abau Malak, a vegetable seller who spoke on behalf of over 245 vegetable vendors, thanked WPDI and the Swiss agency for their cooperation in constructing the Torit vegetable market, which she said will allow them to sell green vegetables in a clean and safe environment, reducing the risk of disease.
“I would like to thank the Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative for building the vegetable shelter where we can now place our greens. However, we kindly request that another shelter be constructed for all vegetables to ensure hygiene, as we are tired of dirty environments,” she said. “This space is for all of us; we should not individualize tables inside the shelter, as it leaves no room for others to sell their products.”