Minister Hails NPA’s Agriculture Work in Jonglei

State Minister for Agriculture and Forestry, Mayen Ngor Atem has hailed the work of the Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) in the Agriculture sector in Jonglei state.

Mayen made the remarks at the commemoration of NPA’s 25th anniversary in Bor last Saturday.

In remembrance of NPA’s work during the war period, the Minister said “NPA service in South Sudan started during the liberation struggle in 1986 and the organization provided relief food, medicine and shelter to the sick, displaced persons. This was not a simple job with war planes overhead”.

“I would like to congratulate the organization for having worked tirelessly for two and half decades, advocating for the poor, oppressed and disadvantaged people in South Sudan and other parts of the world,” Mayen said.

“Since 2004 NPA Agriculture project funded by USAID provided inputs, training to farmers, extension officers to work with the rural farming communities, supported the establishment of farmer training centers and farmer field schools, supported youth, women and vulnerable groups in Jonglei state of South Sudan,” he explained.

He said the Support to Agriculture and Forestry Development Program- Small Grants Management Project (SGM) also being implemented by NPA and funded by MDTF has helped rural farmers to improve their livelihood by working in close partnership with the State Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

The Minister recognized the contribution of NPA in the agriculture sector in Jonglei by mentioning the project achievements witnessed by the Ministry in the past years. The minister said  “NPA program in Jonglei state over the years has trained 7,000 farmers on crop husbandry, 30 local black smith in making hand tools and ploughs, 188 extension workers at Yei Agriculture training center.” He said 22 agriculturists from Jonglei state attained certificate level training in Kenya and 8 attained Diploma in Agriculture in Kenya and Uganda supported by the NPA Agriculture project”. This is a great contribution in the capacity building of agriculture extension in the state.

“NPA has supported 40,000 IDP’s and returnees with seeds and tools, established 9 farmer training centers and 24 Payam extension offices in nine Counties, provided grants to 103 farmers and also supported 30 micro projects,”  Mayen explained.

“NPA worked closely with the Government in promoting the developmental work in South Sudan. The achievements are visible and the rural communities are very appreciative of the good work and wish the organization to continue supporting them. The Agriculture project is a model that has touched the lives of many people in the state,” according to the Minister.

“I call upon our Government and donors to reaffirm commitment to fund NPA projects especially at this particular situation when Jonglei state is going through a lot of humanitarian crisis. Let’s continue to consolidate, close the gaps and expand the work of empowering the rural masses to close the poverty line,” Mayen added. The NPA Agriculture Project is funded by USAID/OFDA.