Ministry of Agriculture undertakes drought assessment in N.Bahr El Gazal state

By Hou Akot Hou

The National Ministry of Agriculture on Wednesday concluded assessment of drought condition in Northern Bahr El Ghazal state.

Chan Kuach, the director in the state ministry of agriculture Ministry, said the most affected places are Aweil North and Aweil West Counties.

The weeklong assessment was conducted in partnership with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

 “Aweil North and Aweil West counties are much incapacitated. People cultivated but the crops withered. Many months have passed since the rain started and crops got damaged. The only counties which are much better are Aweil South and Aweil center,” Kuach told Juba Echo in Aweil town.

He said some of the farmers in Aweil South and Aweil Center have planted groundnuts, which he hopes will do well.

“I want to appeal to our people to not get discouraged though the production will be poor next year. We do engage the partners to provide the crops which can do well during the year of short rainfall and this can salvage the situation greatly,” Kuach said.

He added that they will carry out another assessment next year.

The drought has destroyed most of the crops amid biting hunger in Northern Bahr El Ghazal that has been exacerbated by the influx of returnees and refugees.