01 Aug, 2023, Juba, SOUTH SUDAN – South Sudanese President Salva Kiir on Tuesday called on heads of UN agencies based in Rome to step up support for the country’s agricultural sector to enable South Sudan develop a sustainable agricultural system that is capable of feeding its people and the region.
The President made the appeal during a meeting with the Rome-based heads of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
Kiir told Director General of the FAO, Qu Dongyu, Executive Director of the WFP, Cindy Hensley McCain and IFAD President, Alvaro Lario, that rather than continue to spoon-feed the South Sudanese, it would be much more sustainable for these agencies to help boost the country’s own food production capacity.
Heads of these agencies agreed, saying that one reason for the visit was to try to strengthen efforts to boost food production in the country through the use of advanced technologies, but by also encouraging critical investments in resilience programs, if South Sudan is to avert a food crisis.
Later in the evening, the Rome-based principles, joined by other members of the humanitarian community in South Sudan, held a meeting that was addressed by the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Deng Dau Deng.
“H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit met with the delegation this morning and has assured these three heads of the Rome-Based Agencies of the cooperation of the government to advance in all areas. ” Hon. Deng told the delegates during the meeting.
In his address to the gathering, Hon. Deng further assured the humanitarians of the government’s determination to ensure free movement of humanitarian assistance and aid workers throughout the country.
“We will continue to work together with the Rome-based agencies,” said Hon. Deng, adding that the government would also continue to address all the other concerns of the humanitarian community and remove obstacles hindering their smooth operation.
The Rome-based principles arrived in Juba on Sunday, on a mission to assess the humanitarian situation in South Sudan, especially in the wake of the Sudanese conflict that saw an influx of thousands of refugees and returnees into South Sudan.
The team also visited the Aweil Rice Scheme in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State.
