Governor plays down food crisis in Upper Nile State

In the wake of a recent commodities shortage, Governor Pouch introduced a policy to adopt agriculture as tool of combating poverty by asking the population to rely more on farming than foreign commodities and aid.

In an exclusive interview, Pouch said the state has recovered from the severe food shortage in recent weeks, except for oil, sugar and tea. A memorandum of understanding with the Ethiopian government, he added, paved the way for goods and services to be transported to the state in a few months’ time.
 
Governor Pouch said the cost of goods in Malakal, the state capital, and elsewhere has drastically decreased. For instance, a bag of sorghum in Renk County costs 50 Sudanese pounds, or just under US $19.00, whereas in Juba it sells for as much as four times that amount.

The Governor compared relations between his state and the north, just across the border, to a game that requires mutual understanding.

Upper Nile has commodities that are very essential for the north,” he said.

But without trade agreements, the game” could turn sour.

We have everything,” he stated. We have gum Arabic, animal products and charcoal. When the north says its commodities should not come to the south, then we also say our commodities should not go to the north.”

He insisted that both northern and southern Sudan benefit directly from mutual commodity trade.

His remarks come in the wake of an economic crisis resulting from a drastic shortage of goods. On a tour of Nasir County, Pouch advised the youth population to help with crop cultivation and boost food security instead of staying in town.  

Peter Gony Ruot, Nasir County Secretary, confirmed that prices had dropped following the commodities shortage across the state.

Everything is normal,” he said. You could not hear people complaining of food lacking in the market, whether in Malakal town or in the counties.”  

If food shortages should resume, an agreement between the Ethiopian government and Upper Nile State would allow Malakal to serve as an international airport.

Authorities said Ethiopia Airlines will begin direct flights between Juba to Malakal, making Upper Nile State more accessible to Juba.