Radio Miraya
2671: Roundtable: The Impact of Conflict on Food Security and Livelihoods
(upbeat music) - The Round Table. - Hello and welcome to The Round Table. My name is Sanimat and we are coming to life from Cuba. This weekend our discussion is going to be based on the impact of conflict on food security and livelihood in the country. And that's according to an assessment that was carried out by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization to find out the impact of conflict on food security and livelihood. And the assessment covered Central Victoria, Jungle, unity in Appanile, Warab and western Baharagazal state. And in the Greater Pibor, administrative area. The study was conducted to generate policy and conflict sensitive programming recommendations to reform decision making and strengthen resilience to shock and stresses in a conflict and the gender sensitive ways. And the number of people according to UNFAR also classified has accurately food in situar or the IPC phase three and above is likely to increase to 7.1 million, that is 56% of the population of this country. The question we are going to be asking today is how can this food insecurity, which is being driven by the surging shocks including conflict and insecurity, macroeconomics crisis caused by the depreciation of the local currencies, high inflation conflict in the Sudan, be addressed by both the government and partners. That is some of the questions we are going to be discussing this weekend. And I am joined here in this studio by two of our guests as we expect one more to join us here. We have Tito Awainball, who is the Acting Director General Food Security Analysis and Communication in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. Welcome to Red Mirror. - Thank you so much. And also on the line here we have Maro Meschak, who is the country representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization, known as the FAO. And he joins us also on the line. Good morning and welcome to Red Mirror. - Thank you so much, much an pleasure to be here this morning. - Yes, and we are also expecting a member of parliament to join us here from the committee of agriculture in the National Legislative Assembly. We will be expecting her to be joining us shortly. And our lines will be open to you later on where you can call on 091, 2062079 or 091, 2062950. Or you can send us a question or your questions to our SMS number 091, 21771, 141. Those are all our lines. Or you can visit our page on Facebook and drop your question there. I will be reading some of them as we continue with our discussion right away. Maro, what prompted the FAO to conduct this assessment or research as we may call it? - Yeah, thank you so much. I'm matching and good morning to all our Red Mirror. You are across the country. Definitely we are all aware, as you've said, of the acute food security in the country. And it's important that we look at the causes of this acute food insecurity. What we know is that basically low productivity is an issue, climate change is an issue. But you want to really to delve into and look at the impact of conflict on food security and the livelihoods in South Sudan. And we believe that once we are able to deep dive into something, once you understand a problem, then you are likely to be able to find better solutions for that problem. So this was a matter that this time, we were also taking it up directly with the Ministry of Peace Building. And so it's a contribution towards the peace building in this country, which is a fundamental area. - All right, and before we hear from, and I guess here, what are some of your key findings in this assessment? - Yeah, one of the key things is that when you look at the conflict types, to me was one of the key areas of finding is that you find that we've always assumed that the national conflict, the political area, arena, is the major contributor. But when we look at other conflicts, particularly conflicts over water, these foods with handles and livestock movement and the cattle rating, you find that this affects in a big way, showing that contribution at the sub-national level is very important. So as we continue to push for the political issue, such as election, then at the sub-national level, at these states, then there is a lot of work that can be done to ensure that food security and live news is improved through community action. - Okay, and why did you decide to choose some of the regions like Central Victoria, Zhonglei, Unity, Appanil, Warab, Western Barakazal, and people are living out at us? - No, as we were looking at the impact on conflict on food security, we really looked at using our IPC and trying to look at areas in which there is food insecurity, but there is a lot in terms of our potential. So we want to deep dive there, so compared for instance to a state like, like Western Equatorial or areas like Yambio, they are more food secure. When you look at a state like Central Equatorial, we looked onto each because it's one area that is expected to be food security, food insecure, and thus we were able to look at some of the issues that are related to that are bringing that food insecurity and deep dive on conflict. - Okay, let's come to this today here. Tito, you are the acting director, general food security analysis and communication in the national ministry of agriculture and food security. First of all, I don't know that you have seen this report. What is your reaction? What is the reaction of the Minister of Agriculture to this report? - Thank you so much, Sonia Martin and all the listeners of Miraya across the country. I'm also happy to be online with Mashak, who is the country director for FAO. In fact, in response to the question, I have read the report. I have gone through the report. The ministry have also seen the report through the office of the undersecretary. My reaction on that of the ministry is that this research or the study eventually captured the realities on ground, looking at these six states where studies were done and one administrative area, the facts that are out there are the realities that we have some of these information in the ministry. As I sit in the office of food security analysis and communication, this report have captured most of the factors that are affecting food system and food security across the country. - And what is the role of food security analysis and communication department? - Yes, we deal with the issues to do with the factors. To do with the factors that affect food production or generally food security. In fact, we collect the information, the data that could contribute to the decision-making, especially in relation to food security and nutrition. Like for example, issues to do with the IPC integrated food security based classification, we are part of the concern body of the ministry. That is the role. - Okay, and so many reports have been rendered to your office by partners like FOW. You work closely, the minister of agriculture, work closely with FOW, just like a brother and a sister all the time. So are there any ongoing project in the ministry right now to address the issue of food security or insecurity in the country? - Yes, there are a lot of projects and most specifically that we are doing together with FOW. Like for example, AMVAT project, bullet phones, RAP project and many other projects. We are having some of the developmental projects that we are doing. - Quietly located. - They are in different states like the AMVAT is in Eastern Agatoria. - What is AMVAT? - It is actually agriculture kind of project that deal with vulnerability in the community. How could you solve the vulnerability? At least to reduce poverty. So this project is in Eastern Agatoria, is in Central Agatoria and in Western Agatoria. Then a project like resilient agriculture and livelihood project is in Northern Verzal, is in Eastern Agatoria, Central Agatoria and also in Jungle. So these are some of the projects that we are doing currently and we do them together with FOW. - Okay, Ms. Shaka from the assessment that is already being conducted. What was the overall objectives of the data of in my Gens Information System, the DM impact assessment? - Yeah, the important thing is to be able to communicate not only the data, but some of the underlying causes. And I think it's one of the things matching the event within FOW and together with the government. We are trying to do better. How do we communicate this data in a matter that can bring behavioral change? On policy issues. So just rather than just give the numbers, then this data and such publication like, you know, in the US, I like to give this example or in Europe. It's not just enough to tell people that there will be snow of three centimeters. No, but people are told if you are found outside driving a car without decay, you will have to pay $100 of fine. So this is a move towards how do we ensure that this data, the information is able to bring behavioral change and is able to lead people to appreciate what is the change that they need to make if this information is true. So that is what we are now adding up the number to sort of down scale. This information to certain give the change that are necessary and investment that are necessary to be made by government and communities to work the better good of South Sudan. - And right now, even in the report, when I was reading on the first page, they say the number of people classified has accurately fully insecure, according to the IPC phase three and above is likely to increase to 7.1 million. That's roughly 56% of the population has the country director of FAO and I understand you are also in a will this week. How did you describe the level of food insecurity in the country at the moment for 2024? - Yes, as the report says, one of the things is that if we compared on a year to year basis, we need to recognize also some successes that have been made. - Right. - Yeah, this country just four, five years ago was not even close to producing like 900,000 metric tons of food. So the gap is still there, which is 600,000. The problem is that this gap is huge and I think even South Sudanese can feel it that we have a section that is doing well, but we have a section of our population that is suffering now with the increase in food prices. Even some will just become full insecure because the price has increased. I was in a will, as you say, and if you look at the price of soccer, it has increased and that affects the purchasing power of people. So sometimes just the increase in food price alone and that has been a debate a lot in the country, then means that more people will become full insecure. However, if South Sudanese can go to the farm and that's why we launched the main plantings season in a will together with the deputy minister, my friend honorable Nili, then this country can move forward. Like for the first time, after many years, we are aiming to do 1,000 fiddance of rice in a week. This year, this year. So if you see that time, we were there launching with 10 tractors. So we are moving towards 1,000 and we are working with the community there and we are saying, let's try our best. Last year, we did 200. This year, let us work towards 1,000 fiddance in a will alone. So if we make such movements, slowly, then this country will get itself and will be able to produce enough food and this issue of 7.1 food insecure will be out. - What will it take, according to you, has an expert, has a partner advising and supporting the government in terms of ensuring that we have enough food in the country. What will it take for also other states to at least achieve that target of 1,000 past states? - Yeah, first, as back to this report, as this report says, if we were able to reduce the conflict, I was in Madrid last Friday. Yeah, with the state government of Western Victoria and with other police, the communities were complaining a lot about the disk between the hadas and the livestock. And still, I was saying that I wish one day, I think it was the governor, God will make the saga to eat the cow, you know? So you could see that level of frustration and for us, for communities in such areas to be food insecure because the cows came and ate the dura, the cow is not good. So when we multiply these disputes on hadas and livestock movement and cattle lady, they contribute to a big way to this food insecurity. So these are issues that can be handled at the community level. Imagine, let me tell you, now, as we speak, in lakes, the food insecurity has reduced because of the efforts of the local government in peace. Yeah, you now here, I know you are one of the leading journalists to hear less cases in lakes. So if these things can happen consistently and increasingly, then slowly, we believe in 2024, if we do all this, then let us begin by hitting a million million point one metric tons of cereal produce. So at the local level, there is a lot that the local governments can do to ensure that people are back to their farm with their confidence because if you know that you will plant your sorghum and there is possibility of hadas coming to eat it, you will not invest a lot. - Right, and Tito, how will this report help the government actually to work hard to reduce the gap of food insecurity and ensure that you have plenty of food, like you have had from a mishak that they are launching, they've already launched this project right now, well-aware, they want this to 1,000 for Dan. What about from the government side? We have never had a government launching their own program without asking the partners to come in. - First of all, I want to acknowledge the launching that was done in the will this week, where our Deputy Minister was there presiding over it. That project is not a whole project anyway, it is government project, only that FAO is the implementing agency. It is funded by the African Development Bank and there is part funded by the World Bank, it is government project. So it is important we need each other, government need the partners because they have expertise that we do not have at some point and trust. At the same time, government has power, so that one specifically is a government project implemented by FAO. So FAO is our good partner actually, and they are doing wonderfully well. So in relation to that question, we will continue to do more of the same kind together. It is not that it is a partner project, it is our project. That's why the government was there and FAO leadership was there as the Ministry leadership is there representing the country leadership. So with the Ministry, we will not only want to stop by launching site project in a will, but launching other projects in other states so that we can reduce food insecurity. Like FAO project, there is upcoming project from other partners, such partners, they require government to contribute. We are contributing as government and we have already contributed in other projects that you have had before. That government contribution do not need us to implement it. Still we can give it to FAO requiring their expertise so that they can do implementation. And has the acting director general of food security analysis, what is the impact of conflict on food security and livelihood in the country? In fact, this is a crucial question. Food insecurity across the country though it is caused by a lot of drivers, including the climate shocks, many other things, including the continuous depletion of the livelihood due to the prolonged conflict and all this. Most specifically, the most important thing that is affecting food security is conflict. And as such, across the country, conflict have affected food production though you might find varying reason in relation to conflict state by state as in the research. Across these six states, though there are similar cases, ever state as it is only unique case in terms of conflict or a specific conflict-related reason why food production is not happening in that particular state. So for us as a ministry and me as a person, I'm seeing that conflict is actually affecting the productivity across the country. All right, and still due to a teacher, you have had many times that what is going on in the country right now, the current inflation or the current economic challenges the country is going through. Many economics analysts have said that the reason as to why we are facing this challenge is the country does not produce. We import almost everything from outside. And when people talk about production, you are the driver in that seat of production because the Minister of Agriculture should have embarked on serious production and encourage farmers to do their utmost best to fill the gap. Does it concern you when they say that the country is not producing and yet you have a fireland or they call it a virgin land, you have enough rainfall throughout the country? What is the attack on this argument? Yeah, my take is it concern me. It concern us as a ministry because in the real sense, we are the body that can make the policies that could encourage food production and as well, we are the institution that can encourage food production through schemes like this country own a lot of schemes, so-going schemes, sugar schemes, rice schemes, and even tea schemes. It is our ministry that could do that. It is also the Ministry of Agriculture that is in charge of research that could encourage production in the country and also encourage the farmers in production, so as it concern us, we are now trying to do the little that we can and we believe we are going to ensure that there is production to minimize or completely reduce on this issue of food import because our country has a kind of agricultural prime and as such, there is no need to import when everything could grow here. Any tropical crop can grow in our country, so it concern me and it concern us. OK, and we were supposed to have Honorable Voska Martin, a member of Parliament, and also a member of the Committee of Agriculture in the National Legislative Assembly. We have just received a message from her saying that they have been given an assignment to go and inspect the Barakazar Road from here to Europe. She will not be taking part of this discussion but she promised to feature in any other discussion that can be organized and she will be willing to come next time. We are so, we are not going to have the member of Parliament joining us here. But still, we have two guests here in our studio. You can still join us and send your questions to our SMS number, 091-217-141, and we have Tito Awan Ball, who is the Acting Director General of Food Security Analysis and the Communication in the National Minister of Agriculture and Food Security. And also, we have Marla Meshaq, who is the country representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization in South Sudan. And we are discussing the impact of conflict on food security and livelihood. And that was an assessment conducted by the FAO. Yes, Meshaq, I should have asked this in the beginning. When was this assessment conducted? And at the end of the day, how will you are finding, help the government bridge the gap of what we have discovered? Yeah, as you can see, the report was released this year. The assessments were done in the last quarter of last year. So, together with the Ministry of Agriculture, we and the TAICC, and we and the TAICC are very comprehensive studies as Tito admission, including IPC, which we really do together. And I think Tito brought up that point. And I just want to emphasize on that that we are really working together and very closely. And thank you for your introduction, saying we are working as brothers and sisters. So, our aim, and even during the launch, the Undersecretary, Luis Pierre, and the Ministry of Peace Building really took these issues quite significantly. And we hope that it also assists the Ministry in seeing both national level action and the community action. If you see in areas where, and I think this is where perhaps this study, we may not have done a good job, but we need to do it to identify now, compare with, and see this community action that can be done, the role of our governors, the role of our MPs. And we really look forward to next time having a member of parliament, because they have influence on this communal level. And they can play a big role in that. So we hope that through this study, each of us can see a small contribution that they can make. And thank you so much, Martin, because the journalist is also making a contribution by calling us in these meetings, by asking us the tough questions, so that you can bring people together. So I believe, and I look forward to various constituencies to the community level, to the youth seeing what we each individually can do to make sure that this country meets the potential that you are talking about. Yes, what are some of the recommendations generated from this assessment? And how do you think it's going to help the government in terms of implementing them? Yeah, it has a recommendation that speaks to the national level. It has a recommendation that speaks to the sub-regional level. It even has a recommendation that speaks to us in the humanitarian world and in the UN and as partners of the government. That there are a few things that we can do better to ensure that we contribute in terms of conflict sensitivity, in terms of our planning, to make sure, like, for instance, with the UN agencies, with the other NGOs, this program tells us that we need to put on a conflict sensitivity lens to ensure that the various programs that we do do not in a way that we may not know, contribute or enhance the conflict. So it has various recommendations, not only to government and even communities that are the community level. They are things that we can do to encourage our political class to have a greater appetite on this piece. Yes, like you rightly talked about the price of SOGAM, and I will have gone a little bit higher. And this report has been released at the time when the inflation is at the highest, and the government is trying to fix the economy. How are the local people being impacted by the current economic crisis based on your assessment? Yeah, and that's why the question, now we are really encouraging farmers to produce. Look at a wheel. If SOGAM price is high, do you know the farmers that are there are now benefiting? Those that hard to do wrong, yeah. So this is an opportunity, particularly for the young people. They should not complain over high prices of SOGAM. Let us produce it so that we will benefit from the crisis. Now production as not occurred, Sudan was covering a big gap in the region. That gap needs a country to come and cover it. We are really hoping that our brothers in Sudan basically bring their actions together as quick as possible. But in the meantime, South Sudan is one of those countries that can now fill the gap, you know? And you can see the dividend of peace. I had a friend working in South Sudanese, working in Sudan as a lab technician. He is now back here. He is now in the lab in the ministry. This is because South Sudan was peaceful. So let us build on that dividend of peace to be able to produce. And then as the prices go, we will be laughing at the back. And right now, you have released this report. There is a crisis in Sudan. Like you said, Sudan used to fill the gap and supplying the northern states with a lot of food items. Now that is no longer happening because of the ongoing war in Sudan. And at the moment now, somebody listening to you somewhere in the country will be asking, what kind of support is FOW going to offer to maybe a cooperative, some small-scale farmers, this coming planting season? What do you have for them? Yeah, and that's why we launched the main planting season in a way. And this is just a launch in a way. But this is a sign to the entire country that people need to begin preparing their farms. We have registered a number of farmers in a will. I think we have about over 15,000 households. So when you multiply, because I will, the population is about, I mean, in the Northumba Desert stage is about 2 million, within the five counties and the two municipalities that are there. So we've registered, but we cannot do everything, but there are those who can do. What we want now is that they begin preparing their land because our productivity is still low. Among the farmers we gave seeds last year, they produced at about 0.7, trans-pica. They average in the region is about 2.5. So you find that the difference is about land preparation and within and those, what we call the good agriculture of practices that Stito knows very well about. So now we want to invest on that so that the same seeds, if you have good agriculture practice, if you prepare your land and eat with the same seed and the same land, you can go to 1.2, you know? So that increases the same energy. So that's why we are together with the ministry, even yesterday, we had a meeting during a break and this year, the undersecretary and the minister, whenever just looking seriously into this, that's how can we make sure that the productivity, even we are going to do 1,000 fedons, we must make sure that we don't do this low productivity 0.5, 0.3, then it affects the production. But now with this, we are now beginning to talk about these elements such as productivity. - Okay, Kito, let's speak out from why a measure of justice stopped. What is the ministry of agriculture and food security doing to ensure that we have high productivity? By 2025, at least in January, the people of our will, the people of Tori, the people of Malakar should be ripping big in terms of money from Sogam, for example. - Yes, thank you, Sonny. What exactly is the ministry doing to encourage people to cultivate? - Yes, the ministry of agriculture is working hard actually to ensure that there is productivity in years to come out of much. We are all focusing on peace coming into the country so that there should be productivity. Because looking into what is in this report, conflict is the main driver in low productivity. So a ministry in line with Maputo declaration and also comprehensive agriculture master plan is requesting the country leadership to at least up 10% of the national budget located into the ministry of agriculture so that we could ensure that there is high productivity in the country. By the way, this is what is recommended across the southern African countries and across the African countries so that 10% of the national budget should be allocated to the ministry of agriculture, at least to boost production in the country. So while we are focusing on peace, while we are saying that conflict is affecting the productivity, we are not just waiting for it there because now we are already in the peace, therefore we are lobbying with the country leadership so that in the next national budget, at least 10% will be adopted. Our minister just been lagot, the deputy minister and our 200 secretaries are now lobbying with the country leadership so that this one will be seen in the next budget. And now as under the less than 2% that we are getting, we are encouraging production. Like now within the projects that I talk already, there is a budget that the ministry is allocated into those projects so that production across the country in different states where this project are operating should be boosted. It is what the ministry is doing. Is there any success story where the ministry of embark on and you're succeeding which you can brag about? Yes. Why? Yes. We didn't know that thing that Shaki is bracking about, we are also bracking about it. Yes. That is one story we are bracking about. Not in a brag, is that? Yes, they know that we are asking. We want to use this as the pointing level and this is what we will be... Before you go, I watched yesterday on the national broadcast, the SSBC, the law structures, who provided those structures? The structures are provided under the project that I talk about. Is it by the government or together with the partners? Together with the partners. There is a budget of the government and the budget of the partners. Okay. Right now, he also mentioned about the best practice of agriculture and for you, how do you encourage farmers to do the best thing at the right time, clear the land on time, plant on time and ensure that when the rain hits the ground, they are not below the expectation because like Misha was talking about 0.7. Yes, we want actually to... Nowadays, most of our people use red use. Like one of the... So if you advise a farmer listening to you today, what are the best practices which you think, if he or she follows the outcome or the production will be high, maybe next year or this December. The most important best practice, as we are now in the era of climate change, is timely planting. Ensure that when rain starts, they could find you when you are already clear, you land and you start planting because looking into this few, four years that are gone, there is always rains from the first month like in May, when we are talking about Northern Barisole, for example, and when it comes to the mid-June, there is dry spell. So when you wait up to the end of May and you want to plant in June, it will be impossible for you. The same thing in states like Central or Gotoria, Western or Gotoria, where there is a by model rainfalls, which may start within this match. When rain starts, you want to start immediately, that is one, the other best practice that I could encourage them to practice is to ensure that immediately after planting, they could be monitoring their farms. Like this time of climate change is also time for pests because pests from June will start rising, infestation of pests will start. So it is always very important so that if there are pests that arise, they report this to the ministry, so that ministry together with the partners could look into this time before it could cause damage. Again, it's the issue of rightful seeds, like the partners are providing seeds, farmers buy seeds in the market. You could not just buy any seed. You could buy seed that can give you the result that you want because they may not know the difference between the grains and the seeds. In the market there, there are grains and there are seeds. They may think that any grain can make seed. So that one is also a best practice that I could encourage them to do, buy the seeds out at seed shop, not just at any shop, because if you buy at any shop, you will end up buying the grains, plant them, and when you want to expect something from the farm, nothing could be made. When you get back to get the right seed again, it is already late. This is, what about this practice that is normally done in the villages? When I was a young guy in my village, those days, I used to see my grandmother who plant some, for example, maize and we eat some part of maize and then we keep on us, and that one is tied and hidden somewhere in the house, in the granary. So that they say, when the rain begins, we begin planting with that, and then until we get another one. So let's try to misshak to find out what kind of support is far going to provide for farmers this time in terms of the seeds. - Here, we are involved in the distribution of seeds. This season alone, we are looking at over 6 million kilograms of seeds that will be distributed. Secondly, we are looking at tools to distribute in some areas. We have a special focus this time on the return needs that will get both seeds and tools, because I have to say, and this is one area that I have to give really, really, really a lot of kudos to a number of very, very progressive governors that have given pieces of land, have worked with community to give pieces of land for our brothers that are coming from Sudan to be able to plant. For instance, in a way, the ones that we gave the seeds and tools for vegetables, they've been able to produce sukumawiki, it takes 30 days and you need a very small place to be able to produce. And that contributes in a big way towards food security. And secondly, I believe that those brothers and sisters that come from Sudan, we feel some dignity of having planted something. You know, imagine if someone just gives you things for free, but when you are able to produce it yourself, there is a lot of dignity in it. So we are focused this time on one is the seeds, two is the tools, but most importantly, we are now beginning to focus more in giving information on good agricultural practices. For instance, in a way where we went, each of the county agricultural departments, officers, we call them cards in South Sudan, together with the government, we have made sure that each of them has a motorbike, to be able to disseminate the information to farmers to enhance their application of the good agricultural practices. And we are working together with the ministry yesterday, talking with the Honorable Minister, just from now going under Secretary Honorable Anisio to ensure that in all the 79 counties in this Republic, we are able to enhance the work of the cards, the county agricultural department, so that they can send the information. Once this is there, people need to have the knowledge, we have people that are already planting, they are not only depending on seeds from either FAO or the government, but when they have the knowledge, they will do the right thing. I have a lot of confidence on the South Sudanese people that they can do that. - And just to explain for our listeners, what kind of seeds and tools are you going to be providing? I've already mentioned one. - So what are the rest, does in summary? - Yeah, in summary, I know like in South Sudan, currently there is a lot of beef on the tractor. I am not against it, but I want to tell you much and as you know, the tractor is not an easy vehicle, it's like a Rolls-Royce, it needs a lot of organization, but I want to assure the farmers of South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, is not food secure because they have tractors. If South Sudan has 1.3 million farming households, if each of these farmers was able to do just 1.5 or one fedan, where this country will be out of food insecurity, you do not need a tractor, you do not need a tractor, to do 1.5 fedans or two fedans. And that's why I'm really calling on communities at this time to begin even with the melodium, even with the agenda. If the entire family because in South Sudan, when we talk about 1.3 million farming households, in the household, they are about five and over six people. So if we come together, the six people, to work as you are seeing much enduring when you are young, also me or else, yeah, even the small boy of six, there's a small place. - Yes, we first need to go to school later. - Exactly, and go to school later. And when we come back from school is when we want to, to make sure that the cow is closed and is not eating someone's saga. Also, I don't know one South Sudan to feel that livestock is a bad thing. No, livestock and crops can really live together very harmoniously. We just need to be disciplined. And I think the main problem in South Sudan, now people are making the cows to look like a problem. No, the cows are actually victim. They don't like running around. They don't like being raided. A cow does not like to be raided. So the problem is the small arms with these cattle keepers and not the livestock. And I really want us to, in South Sudan, to change that mentality. I know the reason why it's coming, but the livestock should be our friend. The problem actually livestock is a victim. The cow is a victim. The cow doesn't like to be stolen, to be taken where it doesn't belong. - Right. And Tito now, Fau, is going to distribute 6 million seeds and farm tools to mostly the IDPs and some organelles farmers. And he's saying, assuming 1.201.3 households in this country and back on agriculture, do you believe that the general outcome of things expensive in the market will reduce and people now focus on what is not being produced here in the country, like, for example, cement and building materials, for example, is that the dream also of the Minister of Agriculture, to ensure that we have plenty food. - This, the dream of the ministry, we don't feel comfortable seeing even tomato being imported into the country. Seeing vegetable, like Succomawiki, being imported into the country, sorghum or cereals imported in the country. We don't feel comfortable with this. So, in our view, we are seeing that next year or some years to come, this country will be able to export some of the food commodities, let's say, grains, like these countries that produce high-quality sesame, a country that produce high-quality ground net and many other agricultural produce. So, we will be able to export other kind of food produce, just like Machak said. In case 1.3 million farming households increase, then there will be high level of food production. Now, in this country, we have only 5% of arable land being found, just 5%. Okay, what if we increase it to 10%? We'll be able to go far. So, our focus as a ministry, we are saying when these 10% is allocated to the ministry, we will be able to raise production to the highest level. Now, if any household like Machak was saying, I'm one person who is advocate of beginning from where we are, not just with the tractor, everyone expecting to have the tractor. I advocate, my, actually, for flouse. These donkey flouse, ox flouse, and even melodah, so that every household, like, for example, look at Duba here, how many households are in Duba? And how many households of melodah have the ministry of agriculture decided to distribute to farmers throughout the 10 states, and plow the three areas? Just like I said, I don't want to-- Because most of the time, many people have really blamed the ministry of not bringing enough, because, initially, it was the ministry of agriculture that was taking the lion's share of the national budget by then, but all of a sudden things changed. I mean, if the money was given to you, there was nothing being done. That's what people say. By the way, when you are away from the institution, what do you think might not be? What it is, but as government, we don't always want to be hard everywhere that we don't have, is that. If you are neighbor, it's always the case of a neighbor, always crying. That means there's a hundred in your house. Yes, in real sense, as we are talking, our ministry is not even reaching 2% in the national budget. Initially, it was getting the lion's share of the budget. Initially, I don't know if the record-- Yes, initially, it might use to be, yes, before independent or something like that. But now, we want to be tried. We want to try ourselves. When this budget that we are talking about, reach to the ministry, we'll be able to supply a lot of ploughs, or donkey ploughs, oxploughs to all the areas. And currently, we have a lot of technical people in the counties, like they cut. My job was talking about county agriculture directors. They have experts that could help train these farmers in the rural areas. OK, we shall be talking to Michelle and Kito in the next step away. Our lion should be open. You can call us. [MUSIC PLAYING] Hello, and welcome to the second hour of The Round Table. My name is Sanny Martin. You are coming to your life from Cuba. And today, we are discussing the impact of conflict on food security and livelihood in South Sudan. And this follows an assessment that was conducted by the food and agriculture organization together with their partners to do an assessment on the impacts of conflict on food security and livelihood and assessment was done in central Victoria, Jonglei, Unity, Appanile, Warab, and Western Baharas State, including Greta Pivor, the administrative area. And in the studio here, we have Tito Awenball, who is the acting director general food security analysis and communication in the National Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. I also have Malo Mesac, who is the country representative of the food and agriculture organization in South Sudan, who was supposed to have Honorable Oscar Martin, a member of parliament, and also sits in the committee of agriculture. But because of some national duties, they have to travel to do an assessment on the Baharas Road. According to the message I got from her this morning, she will not be with us, but she promised to join us next time. Yes, and our line should be open to you shortly where you can call us on 091, 20620, 790, 091, 2062950. Those are all our lines you can call. Or you can send us your comment or message or question to our SMS number 091 2177 141 or visit our Facebook page and drop your question there, like some of you have done it. I will be reading some of them and putting them to our guest right here. We do have a couple of questions coming in where our SMS lists begin right away with this one here coming from a top mark due from Ben Thieu in a unity state. And he's saying that unity state has been badly affected by the conflict and flood. What is the intervention of a fowl in this situation facing the people of a unity state? And why there is no enough land for cultivation due to flood? That's going to Mallo, the food and agriculture representative in our studio. That's from a top mark due in Ben Thieu. It's maybe Mallo, you can begin with that. And then another question here is coming in from Justin. Justin is writing from Tom Ping here in Juba, and he says it's going to the representative from the Minister of Agriculture, Tito. And he says from the government perspective, what in your opinion are the best ways of addressing the root causes and drivers of conflict that is having a negative impact on food security in the country? What would be your recommendation as the Minister of Agriculture to the National government, so that the factors affecting the root causes of conflict are addressed so that people can go back to their villages and begin digging. Because he says there are so many IDPs being fed by UN agencies, which is not good for us as a country. That's from Justin here in Juba. Another question here is coming from Mathut from the Jebel Market here in Juba. And he says that people like me want to invest in agriculture, especially cultivation, and livestock farming. But due to insecurity across my homeland, it's impossible for me to do that business. My question is, when are we, the people of South Sudan, going to have peace and begin producing and feed our family? Another question is going on to Malo from Deng in Juba, Moneke. He says he would like to thank Fao for the good job they are doing. They're supporting a lot of people across the country, just because of the challenges the country is going through. Your success sometimes is brought down because of some challenges. But he won't ask, as an expert, from Fao, that has recorded a lot of successful stories across the world. In our situation, what kind of farming can somebody do given the insecurity in most parts of the country to feed your family and take some to the market? Those are the three we can begin with before our lines are open. Yes, Madal, let's begin with you. Yeah, thank you so much. And thanks to [INAUDIBLE] and as in the country for this. To begin on the issue of unity and the flags. You know, matching just in January, February, we took the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and a number of top government officials to Bangladesh. Bangladesh is a country-- if you look at the populations, over 200 million people, the size of land is not even-- you cannot compare with South Sudan. And they are the country most affected by flags. But what helps them is that early warning, early action, and they have loved to-- now they love flags. They plant what is called floating gardens. So when they are not flags, people are crying. Oh, where is the water now? So early action, early warning is fundamental. And let me tell you, for the flags that happened last time, we also have to pass ourselves to the least, pass ourselves in the back when we do a few things, right? This time, few people died, fewer people died, and fewer livestock was affected. So in terms of early warning, early action now, the diets are already there. They are being prepared. Now the people in BenQ have to start taking advantage of that water. We have areas in which now they are doing receding as they-- because the water is going back, they are planting, like a flood, we call it flood chasing. So as the water goes back, but people have to be prepared to do that, so that they take advantage of the moisture. So I want to assure him that we're going to be working with the ministry, with the farmers, so that we begin loving these flags. Once we love-- because there's nothing we can do. It is going to come. We want to reach that point, like the people of Bangladesh, when it doesn't come, we cry. When it's because we have loved it and we know how to use it. The moisture in areas-- now, there are many areas in BenQ, where the floods have receded. How many of our people used that moisture? Even to plant vegetables that only take 30 days to mature, so that they can sell them on the farm. On the question by then, from [INAUDIBLE] Yeah. Especially in [INAUDIBLE] Imagine I'm looking at a time if there is one market that is open in Juba, is Polish. The chicken we are eating is coming all the way from Brazil. So somewhere in the farmers in Brazil are seeing an opportunity here in Juba. I believe Ben can also see that opportunity. So if we have day-old chicken, I want to tell them that it takes only 45 days. And people are buying that chicken, because the chicken, South Sudanese, I mean, people in Juba are buying, it weighs about 1.3 kilos. The one from Brazil. Yeah. So there is no reason why they should have this chicken that it keeps for six months to weigh two kilos, and people will not buy it. We must respond to the market. And all these border, young people like myself, I mean, I'm older, let me not get there. There is an opportunity for them to use the small cash that they are getting to invest it in chicken, and I can assure them the market is there. If people in Brazil are seeing the market in Juba, why can someone in Monocchi not see that market? So there is an opportunity, even in Monocchi, if they can keep 10, 20 chicken. Okay, now just a follow-up from there. This is a very good point you are making, but the question is, what will it take somebody like Deng to begin a poultry farm in Juba? Because in his mind, there are so many challenges. First of all, there's no capital. He doesn't have the land here. He's renting, for example, I don't know, maybe he's renting or whatever. He has a lot of issues in his mind, but the question is, how do you encourage potential young people like Deng to venture and take the risk? Because in everything you do, they are always two-sided. So what will it take young people in South London to venture into agriculture, given the challenges people are going through? Because when you meet them, say, "Oh, things are hard, there's no capital, "there's nobody who can help me." And even if he gets money, sometimes he doesn't invest it wisely. - Yeah, that's why I'm answering. I'm telling you that for me, I think we need to charge this border border, and this took two riders. And maybe Deng is a man. I can't understand, and I'm always confused in South Sudan. Where do they get the money to buy a border border? Where is that capital coming from? Because keeping 20 chicken is not even 3% of the money required to buy a border border. Yeah. And especially these other three cycles. - Mm-hmm. Where is that money coming from? It is something that we and the Ministry of Agriculture need to look at it. Is it that agriculture is not attractive? Because this took two, this border border is more attractive. I don't know where the money is coming from. But every day, I told you I was in a wheel, I just came back from my wheel. I found those two took just being sold in the market like clothes. And there is something, there is something, there is money somewhere. Okay. If you, if you, yeah. All right. Now, just a follow up again on what you said earlier, that you took the Ministry of, official from the Minister of humanitarian to Bangladesh, and you witnessed two things early warning and early action. And we were also told that there was supposed to be an MOU between the government of South Sudan and Bangladesh, so that they can also help the government of South Sudan in terms of trying to deal with flooding and all this. If you, if I may ask, if the same early warning and early action is implemented in South Sudan, we will be ripping from floods, right? - Yeah, we'll be ripping from floods. There is, because now, you know, nature, that is what it has given us. We need to work with it. We can choose to fight it or work with it. And what we pick, and that's why, as a food and agriculture organization, we picked the Bangladesh experience as one of the areas we're encouraging, because they are picked to work with it. - So once they do that, and the Minister himself was, there was there 100 of them. And they could see that this flood is about the right decisions being made at the right time. - Right now, we have a lot of facilities to give us that early warning. - Okay, yes. Let's say, thank you, Tito here. There was a question from Justin that what in your opinion are the best ways of addressing the causes and drivers of conflict that is having a negative impact on food security in the country? Because he's asking that your Minister sits in the cabinet every Friday, and through what these things should be, some of your recommendation to the government to address these causes and drivers of conflict to enable farmers to begin cultivating and produce enough food. - Thank you, Sunny. - Once again, Justin raised a very good point. This question, before I come there, yes, I agree with you. My Minister, just like other ministers, sit in the cabinet like on Friday, two of memorandum were adopted, the one that she raised on behalf of the Ministry, the one for Food Security Council, and the one for Food Reserve Agency. These are very crucial documents that made all of us happy, because as policy-making body, these are some of the documents that will lead into policy that will help in boosting food production in this country and also reducing food insecurity. So, coming into the question, the drivers actually are multiple, the drivers that affect the food security in the country, I will first begin with the conflict. The conflict should be addressed by all of us. For example, if you go just like I said earlier, that if you go to this site, every state or every targeted area, as it is a unique reason, like for example, there are states where there are cattle raiding, which are drivers. There are states that are having issues of land dispute, let's say the border dispute. This thing need all of us, wherever you are, what is affecting us in this country, we think that if there is a conflict, there should be a specific institution that could come in to solve the problem. Dialogue is something that can't be initiated by anybody, by any institution. Be it, charge, any institution, civil society, organization, or an individual. So, it is the first step that all of us need to admit that when there is any sign of conflict, each one of us should come in so that we could ensure that it could not go to full scale. That will be the first thing we could all be doing. Then in the situation where there is conflict already, we need to just reach out to all the institution or the political bodies in that particular areas so that we could bring that to an end. That is one thing that need to be done to solve the issue of conflict, the leaders of the country need to be engaged by all of us so that they could accept that peace is a necessity for food production. And as such, if we want to solve these economic crisis, we could begin with food production. And to begin with food production, the recibes should first be the peace. So, that is the first thing that could be done to solve that driver. When it comes to the climate shocks or climate drivers, like the flood, flood is actually something that we could accept to live with. And if we accept to live with, for example, in the United States, it is something that all of us will have this country sympathize because if you look into the flood last year and the previous year, it had been going on unlike other time in the history where it could just come out at three years or all these barriers gone continuously for the rest of the last two, three years. So, the best thing is to see how could we rip from the flood? Like, we adapt to production of rice in such areas where there is dry spell. We could also want to see what are the drought resistant varieties of a certain crop so that we could use it. I agree with my shock on the advice that he has given to them. I'm one person that is seeing potentiality in two things here in Cuba, vegetable production, because vegetable do not need big area. You just need a very small place, even empty flood. If you just ask somebody that is having empty flood to give it to you for one year, you can do vegetable production and you make a lot of money out of that. Again, poultry production, like he said, poultry production is potential business here in Cuba. And from there, we'll be able to just, why about the import of vegetable and poultry products from other countries? - The Brazilian chicken. - The Brazilian chicken, 1.5. We will be produced 2.5 here. - Okay, now there is discussion coming in from Woodrock here in Cuba. It is going to Tito. And he says, there are three factors affecting farmers in this country. And he says, number one, is the issue of cattle hudders, destroying farmers or farmers in some parts of a courtyard. That's causing a lot of issues. Number two is the issue of the IDPs. We have a large workforce being kept and staying in one place and fed by UN agencies. That already is impacting negatively. And then the other one to him is, he think the government should open up agricultural schemes across the country, not only in our will. So what is your take on this? - This is where through, these are practical factors that are affecting agriculture. The fact that cattle hudders and farmers are having conflict is something that all of us admit. Cattle is livelihood, agriculture is livelihood. These are things that both of us need. But where the problem come in is when both are non-managed, especially the livestock. So what is to be done in countries where there is a group of pastoralism? There is agriculture and there is pastoralism. What is done, there are always livestock roots. Where if livestock are moving, they could not affect the farmers' farms. But it is not in this country. I think we, the government need to pick this one up so that we could ensure that there is no conflict because we need food and that is agriculture. We need this livestock. We need meat from this livestock. We need other product like milk. On nutritional basis, these are very important. This is a fact that we all admit and government, minister of peace building, minister of agriculture, will look into a way of bringing the policy that could protect both the cattle and the agriculture. I think this is true, is right there. When it comes to IDPs, these are actually a sleeping workforce. I'm one person that is not happy to see, they convict. A lot of thousands convict in the prison, not being made to be productive. And they need to be fed. This is the same thing. This number of IDPs, they are not there out of their will. There is something that is keeping them there. If this country is totally at peace, they will be free and they will be productive. So the best thing. - Okay, before you continue, why don't you suggest the government for these people in prison to be used in order to produce enough food? Like we see it in the other countries. Even here in Uganda. - This is true. I'm one person who started in Kenya. And I have gone to prisons. And the way they are being used, some come out, resume, they are productive, they have skills, they are being trained. And while they are being trained and they are still in the prison, they produce what the government. - I have very suggested in the ministry in your, maybe senior management meeting, and said, okay, look, I have this idea. I think it can be implemented here. What was the response? - We are still talking around it at a technical level so that we can bring it to leadership. And this is something that we assume bring it to the leadership, but it will involve a lot of institutions. It is something we need to work on. So when it comes to IDPs, they are not there by their own will, yes. Something is keeping them there, but we could not say that we could just leave them. In refugees come there in Uganda, there is agricultural production, partners are supporting them to do production. In agricultural production, there is this thing called urban agriculture. This approach should be used so that if an if it is a very small place, you could use bucks for production. This thing is an innovative agriculture and it could help. When it comes to agricultural schemes, yes, we have like urban polytaca. The government is now through the ministry of agriculture. We are planning to ensure that we revive a polytaca. We are planning to, like these are the right scheme in a will. I think we are going to get into the best that we are planning to do. We have even in towing, there is a scheme. Mangala here, there is a scheme. A lot of over 10 schemes across this country. The ministry is actually thinking when we have funding in our chapter three, which is capital, we'll be able to ensure that these schemes are revived so that we could not be just talking shop. - Okay. You can now call us on 091, 20620, 79 and ask your question to my two guests here who are with me in the studio. Hello, Redimira. Hello. Hello. Hello, Redimira. Hello. (phone ringing) Yes, 091, 20620, 1950. Hello, Redimira. Hello. - Yes, good morning. - Good morning to your name and who are you calling from? - Oh, I'm calling a yet-bound number from Zara County, Western Victoria. - Okay. (speaking in foreign language) - Okay, thank you. I appreciate all the research that you read your mirror here. - Mm-hmm. - So my question is, so they do provide smart really something like a speed. Now, so that's based through that part of a live install. Now, because stuff are really suffering from disease, even we don't know. Now, why can't they not keep providing medication for the live install? - Okay. Thank you so much. - Thank you. All right. Hello. (phone ringing) Hello. - Yes, your name? (speaking in foreign language) - Yes. (speaking in foreign language) - Okay. Go ahead, bear from Bortown, Samsung. - Thank you very much, dear brother. The topic is very nice. (speaking in foreign language) Our gathering in the studio has mentioned a lot of things that are needing us to be done. And it is surely, it is a laziness that we have, but if we are very keen to put our mind that in agricultural sector, we can kick it off all these observations in our country. - Mm-hmm. - But there is no mind to do that. We are heading to the set, the position in the government, but we did not put our mind in that sector. So, for me, let me say like this. - Yes. - There are a lot of land that can be sitting us, even in Victoria, in Appanile, in Barrelgadam. We have a lot of ground land that can be sitting us here. We can be competing with a ration. That is the country where the people can get the food from. Even us here in South Sudan. So, the argument that the life is done with a promise, it is disagreement. Because people are not under the food themselves. Agricultural is the main thing, is the main point that we can feed on. And the life is done is our main thing that we can feed on. That is agreement between the partners and the cattle headers is there, but there is no one can settle that point. - Okay. - When cattle came today, I can manage, I can do to manage my livestock. Oh, that they cannot go into to destroy that farm. Because that farm, I know tomorrow I can feed on. - All right. - And the farmer also can know a livestock is going to benefit from it for tomorrow. - Okay. - So, this agreement, I need our government to food. - Okay, the very important effort from that is agreement between farmers and cattle ketas to be settled. - All right. - And the people that should put them to food their mind on agricultural. - Thank you so much. I'll be here from Bortan of Zhongl Estate. Hello, everybody. Hello. - Hello. - Yes, your name? - Good morning. - Good morning to you, John, from Rombek. - Oh, yes. - I never knew that you, I don't know how you got my name. - Okay, go ahead, please, yes. - Yeah, Tanya Martin, I, it's good that you and I have these two that are these two get in the studio. One from the Ministry of Agriculture, and one from Power. I have two statements. I will not be having questions aside, but at least two. - Okay. - We will be directed both to the government and to our partners. - Okay. - Tanya Martin, in 2007. You know, there was a lot of grain prices in eastern Africa region. And the farmers in Uganda, in particular, decided not to produce as usual, due to the fear that there will be no market for their produce. The president was having a call for a meeting with the farmers at the station, and he encouraged them to keep producing that Uganda is blessed. When he was asked, where would be the potential market? He said that, you know, you keep producing, because Uganda is founded by a hungry neighbour. And then another person again asking that, who are these hungry neighbour? Then he was saying that thousands to them, and just then Congo, because by then we are not yet independent. That today, and I'm referring this to the government. - Yeah. - And you might have heard, you know, from the economic last test that one of the resolutions was to buy food from these neighbouring countries at a subsidized price, which we all believe will not be sustainable in the state of investing in our own local market. Because the money that we use, they will also strengthen the production of those farmers in those countries, not our own farmers to produce our own food. - Yes. - Today, there are specific programmes, and initiatives that the government of Uganda has implemented to improve food security and livelihoods in rural areas. One of these is a national agricultural advisory stability. Because this Ugandan government established it in 2001. And this is a public and a private approach to extension service delivery aimed at promoting food security and household income through increased production and market-oriented farming. Why is it hard for our government to do so? - Because of the in-security and the issue that they know to themselves. You remember, you know, last week, when traded, that used to go to Miami from Lake State here, who used to go and buy dry seats under what attack and some of them were killed. Is it in-security, why is it hard for our government to make sure that one of these, I mean, what of our economically formed should be security maintenance, says? - Yeah. - And our local population have the freedom to move, have a freedom to exercise, I mean, to do funding activities in their own land. But it is not yet being addressed. On the site of the continent, and this is where I come to far in particular, another organization. - Yeah. - There is this normal practice that I used to see. Every time when they are distributing feet, the quality feet, they distribute seats after the rainy season. Here in Lake's, I'm aware of an organization that is a good seat in June. Then what do we expect? - Okay. - Of course, the issue is that the government inability to monitor and evaluate development partners' activities in South Sudan is another major problem as well. Of course, you know that the channeling funding is done through humanitarian organization and other international partners. For those who are facing with systems, by the government, you know that you might have heard from one of these people that you are hosting, from the Ministry of Agriculture. That the current project that I've been implemented under the Ministry of Agriculture are funded by either the well-banned-- - Oh, I can't go very bad. - Organization. But the 10-minute hour, what this organization are doing, secondly, the lack of coordination out of recruitment practices. And imagine most of this organization only rely on their hatred, which is very hard now. For us, they need to own, you know, to own the driven initiative, the national own and the driven reform that we need to exercise, you know, fight by, fight by, kill training or by whatever way. - Okay. - So that we are the main substitute ourselves. - All right. - These organizations are only recruiting and then international office by that and then they will go back with the knowledge. And then we remain. And that's why most of the livelihood projects are not sustainable here in South Sudan. - Okay. Thank you so much, Joan. And we have this question here from Alias in Azar, a county of Western Dakota State, beer from Bohr, talking about the disagreement between farmers and the cattle keepers. And also he talked about the issue of laziness. And then we have this one coming from a look a call from a wheel. He's asking me, Shaq, whether he has an idea or how can he advise the farmers about what will be the average rainfall across the country this year, given the current heat wave. Should we be worried as farmers or we should just go on and prepare our land and wait for the rain? Let's begin with that. I'm Shaq, this question of the average rainfall pattern across the country. Is there any report have got so far from your partners as you can advise the farmers across the country while listening to you today? - Yes. We have addressed this and we are telling our farmers that the rain for this time is going to be what we call average or above average. And so the quality is just to prepare the farms, to look at an expect rain. I want to warn particularly the young people. Sometimes you are afraid that, oh, there's not going to be enough rain water. Let me tell you, it is worse if that rain comes and you have not prepared your lunch. Because by then. - So go ahead, yes, go ahead. Just more clarification for in simple language, when you say average above average in simple language, does it mean there will be too much rain or less rain? - There would be just, would be more than expected, but enough to do the farming. It's not enough for people to change their behavior and to fail to plan seeing that, oh, it might not work. What we are telling them that, even if it doesn't work, it is worse in terms of gambling that you don't do anything. Let us be in the farms. - Okay. - So we are looking at from about, we are now from about maybe, yeah, let's April, then the rains will come. And that's why I know it is tough as you've seen that preparing land this time is going to be a bit more tougher because of the temperature is a bit higher. But people have to prepare. It is what we have. We have to work with this, but you can see there is going to be rain. So we need to take advantage of it. - Okay. And then Alias from Zara, you're focusing more on farmers, but there are people who have animals and some of these animals seems to be having some kind of infection. Is there any kind of medication for the livestock? 'Cause these are all our livelihoods. - Do you want to talk to this? - Yeah, I want to tell him that working with the ministry of livestock and efficiently together with my friend earlier on your technical point. We, last year, our vaccination and treatment of livestock was able to meet 10 million animals. And in South America, we were able to eradicate. It's one of the countries that even eradicated rindipus disease, other diseases, it's not there anymore. It was a lot of work to be able to eradicate that disease. Together with the government and every row at the forefront, we spent a lot. And now we can say that the rindipus disease is totally eradicated. We have established an laboratory. Marching, before 2023, we used to take things for treatment for testing of disease in Kenya and in South Africa. Now in Juba, after we've constructed the lab with the assistance of the Japanese government, we can test 60% of the diseases here. And I told you, some of my friends who are in Sudan are now back. And so the laboratory is going to be enhanced up. So we are doing a lot of work in that area, but as you can see, some believe that we don't need to do that because the livestock is creating problems. No, let us find ways and we can easily solve this problem of the livestock fast as this study you've seen, like in Wara. These small arms in the hands of farmers, cows are not taking care of with guns. They are taking care of with sticks. So there is no farming of livestock that takes care, takes place with guns. With immediately you get there, you know that you are in a problem. OK, there was this more clarification from you to John about late distribution of seeds after rainy season. And then the issue of hiring expatriates from outside to come and supervising jobs by the time when they are gone, sustainability becomes a problem. Yeah, I think that must have been looked up all I really appreciate his views. Yes, that's Joy. John from Rumbik. Yeah, John from Rumbik. A really welcoming statement and the reference to the Ugandan president and the facts. And I take his criticism positively. We are not 100% efficient. And as FAO, I can tell you, I'm working day and night to ensure that we are able to get these seeds on time. But that's where we need farming my brother, Martin. Some of these seeds, for instance, vegetable seeds, they are coming all the way from Italy, coming all the way from the Netherlands. We had sorghum, coming all the way, was coming all the way from Sudan. A number five means all the way from Uganda. Once we are at Kenya, once we are able to produce it in China, the problem reduced. For instance, I've just lost two months because of the tax issues and tax exemption that has been stopped at the economy. These seeds were there for two months. You can imagine, as I tried to resolve with the minister for finance, which we are grateful that they've now resolved. But there are so many things along that value sheet that can affect. Like now, as if we lost over one and a half months, as the trucks were locked up at the border point. But it is something that I want to assure the South Sudan is that we are doing our best to ensure that we are able to deliver the seeds at the right time. But the best, the shorter the distance. And that's why we are now supporting farmers to be able to produce seeds locally. It will help us a lot. In the border towns, for instance, near Ethiopia, we have to fly the seeds. It cost us $70,000 just to fly the seeds because there are no road networks. So any delay in flights and all that. But I want to assure the South Sudanese that we are really doing our best on employment, on employment. Yes, go ahead. I agree that we have to work to build the local capacity. But it is not entirely true that the international staff are taking the position of South Sudanese. There is a lot of space to enhance local markets, local and private. What I'm matching when I'm saying this is bad. I don't want us to be fixated on that point and fail to develop local employment. You know, sometimes even if the international staff leave, it doesn't mean that space will be there. So it is not a win-lose. I see it as a win-win. Let us make sure on our side and as FAO, we will try an other international organization to make sure that the capacity is built, that this country does not depend on the international skills. But that will always be there. I am always proud of being here because I'm caring. But even in Canada, up to now, we still do have expertise. OK. All right, let's find out more from Tito here. Yes, you had a lot of the issue of the disagreement between cotton capers and farmers. The issue of laziness is raised by beer. And also, there was this comment from John elaborating more about the initiative by the Ugandan president through a lot of development like the nuts in Uganda. And now we have the Paris development model where it Ugandan is given one million Ugandan ceiling which is an equivalent to a $700 here in South Sudan to embark on a certain kind of significant improved livelihood of those communities. But he's saying this is lacking in this country. Yes, Sunny, thank you again. I want to comment on I mean to echo on the point raised by John. But before that, I want to get back to BR. Yes, our issue in this country is not a physical laziness. It is a mental laziness. Where we think a certain thing is impossible. Because we are not encouraging and synthesized. Actually, to know that it is possible. Like agricultural productivity being simple. Some people do not know that you don't need a lot of capital. This is something that need a lot of advocacy. So there are people know, again, there are people with a lot of money in their bank account. And instead of giving that money to some young people that are having ideas so that they can do production, they think that they have been investing this money in other businesses where they could drive without knowing that they could get a lot from agricultural partnership with these young people. So I believe it is not physical laziness, but it is a mental laziness. As a youth, I'm part of these young people. And I know what is affecting them there outside. So this is what I can comment to there. When it comes to the difference between the headers and farmers, this is a fact that we all need to admit in this country. But we also need to know that it is possible just like BR said, if I am now in the cattle camp, I will be able to manage this because I need to protect that farm because I need food. And also, that farmer need to know that he need this livestock, because when you go to the bush, where do you think meat come from? It's not coming from laboratory. It is coming from this animal. So we both need animals, this livestock. And we need this farm because we will go to buy cassava. We need to go and buy sorghum. Therefore, this is something that needs intervention of all of us, the Chinese Civil Society Organization, the government, and all of us to see a way of solving this amicably because we all need this. Coming to the comment of our brother, actually the first comment that some people may take it badly. That is love for the country. As a head of the country, you need to encourage your people. Like now, we could equal the same. Our mind, we are hungry. We are also a neighbor by the same. So if we could encourage production in this country, we could be able to feed ourselves and feed other neighbors. So I agree with him, when somebody was doing this to encourage his farmers, we need to ensure that we use this crisis to produce for ourselves and end up producing for our neighbors on the issue of monitoring of you and projects and other partners. I agree with him, but I want to assure him that it is not business as usual. The government, the ministry of agriculture and food security have started fresh. Like, actually, heavy oil is our good development partner, but it has not been doing well when it comes to seed distribution. In other states, they can have a distribute in July. This is something that happened some years back. But now, since we are pinning them hard, and since we are giving them hard pressure, the promise is that this year is not business as usual. Seats will be distributed timely, and we will be there to follow them. With our own government budget, we will be going to the insights to monitor if seeds and tools are delivered. Because it is these inputs that can encourage agriculture. Now, the question some people will be thinking in their mind right now is, those countries where these seeds are being imported from. A small country is more than South Sudan. What do we like to produce our own seeds here? Why should we have to import seeds from Italy, from Netherlands, from wherever? Yet, we have almost everything here. In fact, we don't encourage-- why can the ministry embark on what it takes to produce the seeds locally, and avoid what Ms. Shaq was saying, the border issue, the taxation, and all these, because these are the challenges they are going through, they have to go running up and down in the ministry of finance to clear these things at the bottom, the transport, shuttering plane. These are expensive. Yes, for us, we don't encourage, actually, this issue of importing seeds. What is the minister-- I'm coming to that. I'm coming to that. Because there is this thing called ecological zoning. There is a certain crop that is best in a certain ecological zone. So seeds that have been there for time are good at that particular area. But if you bring seeds, even if it is so good, when you bring a needle in Uganda, don't expect it to perform the way Saqam was performing in Yambiyo, the local one, the land race. So we are encouraging the sourcing of the seeds from within, but the problem come in. This country do not have enough seed companies. This is what sometimes force the-- why don't you, as a ministry, encourage the seed companies to come in and develop and manufacture or whatever process it is. We are doing it through the department of research. Our department of research is now even doing seed production, but multiplication of the seeds is not always the work of the ministry. It is a company, seed company, like seed producers of Sosudan, Stas, are the ones supposed to do the seed production after we have done their site and satisfy that these seeds are fit for use in a certain locality. They are supposed to do seed production so that FAO and other development partners could come and buy from there. But as ministry, we are encouraging this so that with year or years to come, there should be no seeds that should be put from our site, unless it is hybrid that we are seeing, it need to be used. Okay. As our time is coming to an end, we want us to conclude this story. First of all, right now, when I was preparing for this program today, I reached out to several people whom I wanted to invite. One of them was from the agriculture bank of Sosudan. I reached out to some of the board members. They said they could not make it because they are travelling today to one of the poultry farms along the Jubbal Road to go in and monitor the poultry farm there. That is one of the issues I would like to find out more from Meshek before we conclude. Meshek, what is being done to encourage this kind of poultry farm across the country by the partners and the government? Yeah. As I said, this is one of the low-lying fruits that the country can really take advantage of because as my friend Tito just mentioned, we don't want importation of commodities and items that the country can produce. But here, the issue of price would be a factor and that's why we, together with the Minister of Life, we are looking at that as a value chain to make sure that the way they produce chicken, even in Uganda and Kenya, if we are not here, the price would be much cheaper by the time it hits Jubbal than the local one. I am facing that because I buy seeds. Imagine I tell you, when I buy seeds from Uganda to get it here for May's number five, I spent to get it here about 1.5 dollars by the time it reaches here. If I buy just from the farmers, this is more small, which I have to aggregate a lot to get maybe 1 million kilograms, I will pay about 2.5. When I buy from the agro dealers, the local traders, I will be at about 3.5, and that's why that's a good advantage of practice will also be included with a business mind, because there is no reason a South Sudanese will go and we find a very expensive chicken unless he wants to eat organic, and because there is no money and he will buy it simply because it is from South Sudan four times higher. So those are the things, that's why I really welcome the involvement of the Bank of South Sudan, because then we introduce the business aspect, because it's about people who can take money and they need to repay back, so people look at the production criteria. So it's a very welcome move, and as we said with this week, please, I said beginning this debate, I am very, very excited at it. Okay, and finally, what is your recommendation to the farmers, this farming season? Let's listen to it now, finally. Finally, as I did, we really need to go to the farm. And you know, I gave earlier the example of Bangladesh. But Bangladesh, they are about 106 million people. Their large area is 147,000 square kilometers. South Sudan, we are 12.6 million people. Our land area is over 644,000 square kilometers. That means that we are 4.5 times bigger than them, but you can see the appropriation. They are more affected by floods, more than South Sudan. And so if we just go back to the farm, I said the 101.2, 1.3 million farming households, we are 5, 6 people. Do two, three, if I dance, this country will be out of mud in terms of food security. I know it will take time. But together with the minister, Pat, you catch another partner, we are really committed to this. Okay. Thank you so much, Machak. And finally, Tito, in 30 seconds, our time is up. What is your final remark? My final remark is that all South Sudan needs to know that conflict is a key driver that affects food insecurity. So I mean food security and all of us need to engage in anything that could bring this conflict down so that there will be production in agriculture and there we will be able to ensure that the country is food secure. And I encourage all the people in the country to ensure that this farming season, at least in your village, you have one fedan produce for your family and someone that has capacity could produce more and from there we will be able to talk different story next year and like what it is this year. Thank you. I hope I'm going to produce two fedan in my village. Thank you so much, Machak and Tito for your time this weekend and thank you. Thank you so much, Machin and Tito. Thank you. And with that, we have come to the end of our own table for this week. My name is Sani Martin and we were discussing the impacts of conflict on food security and livelihood in the country and my guests were Tito Awenball, Acting Director General Food Security Analysis and Communication in the National Minister of Agriculture and Food Security and also we had Malo Machak, the country representative or director of the Food and Agriculture Organization, the UN FOW. And thank you so much for listening and catch us next week. [Music] The Round Table.