Upper Nile farmers hopeful after FAO jets in spray aircraft

Author: Daniel Michael | Published: 36 minutes in the past

The spray-plane serves IGAD member states | Photo by Diko D. Andrew

Upper Nile Agriculture Minister has stated a regional spray aircraft flown into the nation final Monday has been deployed to the state to fight pests devastating crop farms there.

This comes weeks after authorities in Melut, Baliet and Renk Counties of Upper Nile State appealed to the nationwide authorities for pressing intervention to guard their crop farms from the pests.

They reported that pests corresponding to rats, locusts, and quelea birds had broken their crops spanning tons of of 1000’s of acres.

In response, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) final week flew in a crop-spraying aircraft serving IGAD member states, to fight the pest outbreaks.

“Thank God, the aircraft designated for spraying crops from agricultural pests arrived on Saturday in Upper Nile State and can head to Renk to start out work. From there, it’s going to head to the remaining 8 districts that the federal government has recognized for the aircraft to function.

“This plane will work to combat agricultural pests in 8 districts, namely Fashoda, Mango, Renk, Baliet, Akoka, Makal, Melut and Maban. I would like to inform the farmers that we will save the rest of the agricultural season that was affected by pests”,  stated James Basha,  Upper Nile Agriculture Minister on Saturday.

On his half, FAO consultant Peter John expressed the company’s dedication to save lots of crops from pest destruction this 12 months.

“FAO is dedicated to aiding the state and nationwide governments in saving this 12 months’s crops from injury because of agricultural pests, and enhance manufacturing on this season and the approaching seasons.

“This help supplied by FAO won’t cease at maize and sesame crops solely but in addition assist farmers in offering meals for the states by the manufacturing of assorted forms of greens.