Yiep Joseph
Africa-Press – South-Sudan. John Deng Madut, Warrap State Minister of Agriculture, Environment, and Forestry. [Photo: courtesy]
Warrap State Minister of Agriculture, Environment, and Forestry John Deng Madut criticised the ongoing government project of supplying food items at subsidised prices.
In an interview with The City Review, Deng claimed that the idea is a short-term solution that would not benefit the population.
“That food being supplied at a reduced price will only be bought by those with money; what of those without money? Do we leave them to starve?” Deng questioned.
He insisted that the economic cluster should use President Salva Kiir’s order to respond to the current crisis appropriately.
Deng added that the money directed by the president to be used to respond to the current crisis is enough and should be used to provide long-term solutions—not a short fix.
However, Deng declined to mention how much was allocated to the cluster to respond to the economic crisis but rather insisted that there was money for the country to respond to the crisis.
The minister added that although the idea can help for a few days, the proper way the government could have responded to the crisis is by championing avenues for everyone to go to farming this season.
“It is a short-term solution for the current situation, but a long-term solution to the situation is to embark on agriculture.
He, however, urged the government and the economic cluster in particular to avail money to boost agriculture in all the states and administrative areas.
“The government has to disburse funds that were resolved during the national economic cluster meeting chaired by H.E. the president to the agricultural sector before the rainy season,” Deng said.
“Well, it is not a good idea, but it will sustain our population during the current economic situation, but it won’t be enough,” he added.
Deng stated that most of the people leaving rural areas do not have money to buy the goods being supplied at reduced prices.
He also added that, till now, the food has not reached the states. But even if does, not many people will buy it.
Deng mentioned that the best way to handle the current economic crisis is for the government to put all efforts together to ensure that citizens utilise the rainy season for production.
“We are left with 21 days to enter the farming season and yet people talk of agriculture and have not been funded; just fund the sector and ensure security,” he said.
Deng added that it is not the first time the government has supplied food to citizens at reduced rates, but the project always does not meet its objectives.
He urged the political leaders to put their differences aside, adding that the economic crisis and hunger remain serious and need to be handled without politics.
On Wednesday, the Ministry of Trade and Industry announced the opening of a business centre that would sell commodities, especially food items, at cheaper prices across Juba.
It was part of a government-private sector partnership to ensure essential commodities are afforded at subsidised prices by the citizens despite the current inflation in the country, according to officials.
Prosperity Limited is the company that will be supplying the food items and has opened up six other food stores in the areas of Hai Referendum, Konyo Konyo, New Site, Jebel Dinka, Munuki, and Sherkat.
Source: The City Review South Sudan
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