The High Expectations for Jonglei State New Governor, Hon. Philip Aguer Panyang (Part II)
On Economy: People’s Expectations for Jonglei State Governor, Philip Aguer Panyang
By Samuel Reech Mayen, Kampala, Uganda
January 5, 2016 (SSB) — The new state of Jonglei is one of the poorest states in the Republic of South Sudan. The insecurity, unwillingness of the young generation to work coupled with lack of government policies for production saw the previous old Jonglei sliding down to its knees economically. This economic retardation has been inherited by the new state.
Having just discussed how the new Leadership of Hon. Philip Aguer is expected to curb insecurity, the second priority that needs to be addressed is the issue of severe poverty. All these priorities slightly overlapped. The economic activities begin when the security measures are properly setup. In general term, people cannot talk of economic growth when the citizens are not assured of their safety in their villages.
Historically, the people who form this new State practiced subsistent crops farming. The food produced could feed a family for a whole year with the supplement of animals’ products. Lately, this has not been the case due to the reasons alluded above.
As the state enters into a new period of hope, it is important to revive not only the subsistent farming but also begin the commercial farming. Basically, it is how this vibrancy can be achieved which is the main focus of this article.
The land of the new State is extremely fertile but for quite long time, it has remained redundant. Land is a valuable asset and no one should remain poor as long as he owns enough land. The State government needs to have a goal for food production which should be achieved within a specified period of time. This goal can act as a road map for economic policies.
To achieve this goal, the government of Hon. Aguer is expected to develop clear policies for boosting the economy in the new state. These policies should be supported by the statutory laws and bye laws.
As part of the policies, it is a role of the government to ensure that it establishes Agriculture Centre in the state. This centre should provide trainings, advices and any technical support to the state farmers. The centre should also provide seeds for new crops that should be introduced into the local farming system. It may be expensive for the current government but many organizations are ready to help although they do not know who to collaborate with.
It is essential to institute this centre so that farmers do not only stick to the traditional methods of farming where people adhered to some few crops leaving others which are of high economic value. For instance, in the areas of Athooc, Twic and part of Duk that constantly flood, growing maize is not a good idea for it can easily be destroyed by the flood. However, these areas are potentially suitable for rice which grows well in watery areas. Hence, the farmers in this location need some knowledge on how to grow rice.
Furthermore, farmers have adhered to growing sorghum as their primary product. Yes, this should be encouraged but other crops such as; tomatoes, cabbages, Sukuma-wikki (probably jirjiir in Arabic) potatoes, yams, cassava should be grown in the areas where they grow well. A research should be done by the State’s Agriculture Centre on behalf of the citizens to identify the suitable location for growing the right crops.
Besides other crops, the areas of Gok in Bor County are probably suitable for growing maize. I am here talking of large scale production of crops so that we stop importing what we can produce from other states or countries.
Most places along the River Nile are also good for Sugar cane plantations. Imagine, if there is Sugar cane plantation in these fertile areas, automatically, Sugar factory will emerge. There are plenty of investors who want to invest in our state but lack of local produces scare them.
Besides crop production, we have cattle, though diseases and cattle rustlings have reduced the quantity and quality of these cattle. The Administration of the new governor Hon. Philip Aguer is expected to encourage and influence the cattle keepers to improve the quality of the breeds that we have. One may find an old man in the cattle camp with over twenty cows that produce less than ten liters of milk a day not knowing that most productive cows exist in the neighboring countries. A single Dairy cow produces over fifteen liters a day. If these cows are introduced into our pastoral system, do we know how much we can benefit from such milk in term of money? A single dairy cow can pay a tuition fee for a student in secondary school.
It is not a suggestion to replace the local breed but rather for the people to accept the foreign breeds to benefit from them. Cross breeding between the local cattle and the new breeds can also improve the quality of the current breed. Farmers should be sensitized to stop ignoring things that are of economic value.
How about seeing a retired general counting thousands of sheep as he stands at the gate of his kraal at sunset? Our land is enough for both crop farming and rearing cattle. Encouraging some of our population to rear sheep, goats and poultry in large numbers is one way of boosting personal income. Rearing sheep in thousands can make someone a supplier of mutton to the towns across South Sudan. It doesn’t need someone to take his sheep for sale but just phone calls from customers and the following morning a truck shows up at the gate. The cows and goat graze and browse free of charge. It doesn’t cost any one anything to feed them. Is this not a cheap business with much profit?
But doing these requires states government to provide support to the citizens. On top of all, there must be legal sanction against the unwilling people. People should learn from the neighboring countries specifically Uganda and Kenya. They have been feeding us since 2005 or beyond. What is it that these countries have more than us?
In Uganda for example, it is not that the citizens are willing to work but the government has made it a priority to make them work. It is common that the leaders of Uganda including H. E. the President move around the country for economic campaign. In this exercise, the president of Uganda knows people who own big farms. It surprises foreigners when you hear the president of Uganda in the state of nation address mentioning the names of major farmers including those who run fish ponds. As a result agriculture is the leading mean of earning incomes with South Sudan as the chief consumer of Uganda produces.
Farmers pay tax from their farms produces too. How are we going to pay tax if we are left to play indoors games and endlessly sipping tea at the working hours? Can a relative who work in the government pays for the extended family members’ tax annually?
Even Christians know very well from the Biblical rule that “everyone who has more will be given, and he will have abundance but he who has nothing even the little that he has will be taken away from him”. In Islam, Quran similarly echoes that “one will have to reap whatever rewards or retributions done as a result of his work”.
If the people of Jonglei have enough crop produces, industries such as maize milling factories, Sugar factories, fish and beef canning factories will invest in our state. We do not expect a factory to operate with in the vicinity and import raw produces from other countries for the prices are too high. Therefore, it’s better we do our best and the better things will come as a result of the local productivity.
To achieve this, it must start with government officials as exemplary. The state government needs to have its own plantation. This plantation cannot be merely appreciated on the basis of figures of hectares but by the annual quality and quantity of harvests.
Every able bodied person, whether in the army, police, prisons or civil ministries needs to have a farm in Jonglei State. Our prestige is hidden beneath our soil and it needs to be discovered. With a stable economy, the other challenges will be addressed as explain in the next opinion articles.
(Note: the author is not an economist, but writes from the judgment of an ordinary mind) He lives in Uganda and can be reached at: mayenreech@gmail.com or +256 772 727 857
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