Diseases and pests main challenges to food security in Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State, South Sudan

The directors of agricultural departments of the five counties of Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal have urged their government to fight and control diseases and pests affecting crops in the state. The most notable enemies are reportedly white grubs, termites and millipedes. “They are the major destructive forces, although our own cattle are also destroying our crops,” said William Wany, the Director of Agricultural Department in Aweil West, one of 35 people participating in a two-day dialogue forum aimed at raising awareness on food and nutrition security through sustainable nourishment production systems. The event, bringing government officials and civil society organizations together, was supported by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), the World Food Programme (WFP) and other UN agencies hoping to boost food production in the country. “I think the long-term idea for development is resilience at the community level rather than at household level. If the Minister for ...