South Sudan: Let’s save our food, let’s save our economy, from wastage
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Abel Majur Leek's farm in Mareng, Bor, Jonglei state
By Gum Makur Gum, Yirol, South Sudan
Tuesday, August 18, 2020 (PW) — As a nation we are wasting about 30 percent of what we produced annually, today our country is grappling with the problem of food waste. Our farmers grown these food, they spent large amount of labor and money.
In South Sudan for instance when farming begins everybody sit back and watch, when agricultural products are reaped, almost everybody can be engaged in consumption even those who are not involved during farming; South Sudanese let be producers instead of consuming what we have not sweat for.
On the other hand, plenty of food is being thrown away (leftovers) because much is being cooked. Women can we try to be rational, even rains and river waters get finish if not properly managed.
Almost 50 percent of our population is starving from hunger yet we waste food at homes, women can we start saving food and give surplus to those who need it most.
The supply is more than enough but the excess is lacking, can we try to tighten our belts. Some of us are troubled by inflation and the prices in market are skyrocketing.
Our farmers waste large mount of food during harvesting, assembling, sorting, storing, retailing and consumption. I know some of us never care about tomorrow, as long we are satisfied today.
Let us make it a habit to plan what to consume and in what quantity. Every times we eat whether at homes or at occasion, let us make it a habit to always take the quantity that we are capable to consume. Never allow anyone to serve you or force you to eat against your will.
It is my hope that each one of us has a role to play in combating food waste, we waste a lot of money if it can be converted into monetary value.
It is therefore imperative that South Sudanese women and girls should take note of this and start saving food; I know how difficult it is in my culture to restrict food consumption but lets make difference. Let’s save food, let’s save our economy.
The writer is Director of Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock and Fisheries, from Yirol East County, Lakes State. He can be reached via his email: gummakur75@gmail.com.
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