01/05/2026
| NO PLACE IS SAFE: BENTIU'S FOOD DISTRIBUTION CAN'T AID BUT A TEMPORARY THIRST-EASE SOLUTION.
Authored by Kulong Buom |30 April, 2026
Agriculture practices remain to be an option rather than a priority in Bentiu. In light of Al Jazeera English news, revealed "80 million Population live in poverty in South Sudan,” only 20% having access to privilege, while 80% are in deprivation.
To add an insights to this study, divide such statistics; it exactly estimated 8 out of 10 live in extreme hunger as manual farms can't satisfy the demand in each state.
In 2024, World Bank Group stipulated, “South Sudan is facing a dire hunger crisis, with roughly 92% of the population living in extreme poverty,” in their Poverty & Equity Assessment; shown the whole population is severely impacted by food insecurity long ago.
Hunger can't wait, required immediate action.
It is more than a thirst, Dr. Manytuil and his cabinet must make a favorable deal to secure Tractors in Juba. Failure to do so, may add a strange burden to already scarce resources, given its geographical location as landlocks in rainy season.
Reviewed on the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 2 of 2030 Agenda; is Food Access, "Zero Hunger to end global hunger, and achieve food security."
For Unity State to align with this objective and eradicate poverty, state policy-makers should think beyond Food Distribution, but to help farmers invest in large-scale firms for a long term sustainability. Tractors Support, Fuel, and Cash to pay their Workers can ease Food deficiencies.
In areas like Norkur, Thoan of Guit, Ngol, Manga, Thow man-gor, Thonyar in Leer, & patit in Koch, which are fertile and un-affected much by flood. Even if they were, with support from professional Agriculturalists, they can guide farmers' crops to grow in wet-land. Bentiu’s farmers have been blocked by insecurity and natural disaster, despite having an eco-environment that can sustain the state.
With such reports, no place is safe as widespread hunger in South Sudan push communites to their limits. Therefore, requires Proactive and Coordinated Action from Agricultural Actors to focus on sustainbility.
Observably, Mayom County’s rice and onion scheme implemented by Welthungerhilfe Project, Funded by World Food Programme provides the opportunity for future Agro-Action across state. A footprint that can be followed in other six counties to ease food insecurity issues.
States Agreement & Eco-Friendly Trade Union
Bentiu, Ruweng, Warrap state, can ease their cattle target and find an immediate solution for all grievances around borders. Instead for them to engage in fury, they must leverage the soil to produce food and flood their states markets.
This initiative could be borrowed as best Practice to safeguard food sufficiency, while avoiding emergency brakes in case of a sudden surge in food imports from either Sudan or Juba. Also, it has advantages prior to planned future agricultural spending to assuage or thirst farming in states like Bentiu, Warrap, and Ruweng.
In these states, according to data, are those with the Worst Food Insecurity. Unlike Aweil, Renk, East, Central, and Western Equatoria. Farmers fear for their lives in Bentiu, Rwueng and Warrap, as a lack of a proper security agreement among sisterly states limited local production.
So far, the crisis of cattle rearers has nothing to do with Agriculture farms in Bentiu, Ruweng or Warrap, as long as both states manage the security leakage to profit from the food trade deals.
Main Farming Scheme states in South Sudan
Existing Agro-scheme areas like Aweil, Western Equatoria, and Renk in Upper Nile State are left with limited options. South Sudan has not yet explored agricultural areas, despite support from JICA, EU, U.S and China to strengthen her food reliant. Still the country survives in the East Africa Common Markets.
In the recent crisis, priorities shifted to political instability, which a little South Sudan breathed on East Africa Community membership. With integration of Valued Added Taxes (VAT), all these impacted South Sudan’s economy lifeline. Although EAC partners like Uganda and Kenya may claim an important victory over South Sudan’s economy due to sealing rules-based free trade pacts of 2000.
In 2024, South Sudan’s GDP dropped from 4.64 billion, representing a loss of nearly 75% of its value, lead to depreciation of South Sudanese currency, which represents less than 25% from crude oil export now. Let alone 90% of government spending in revenue collected.
Conclusively
As a way forward, to leave this fiction with Motto; "Produce Locally, Consume Locally, and Sustainably," Dr. Joseph should prioritize long-term investment in agricultural action over the distribution of limited Food Assistance.
Bentiu’s fertile soil and seasonal rainfall are immense natural assets that, if utilized appropriately, can effectively alleviate this extreme hunger. In this crisis, sooner or later will push the nation toward the brink of bankruptcy.
With civil servant wages becoming more optional than mandatory, none can afford basic food any longer later. Food insecurity is the root of issues, when agriculture is not a top priority, the scarcity fuels crime and causes a sharp decline in overall economic prosperity.
Recommendation
1. Unity state's Gov't can acquire at least 35 tractors, make an equitable distribution of 5 tractors per county to boost local agricultural productivity than manual work.
2. State Ministry of Agriculture shall lead all technical operations and fleet management, with high-level supervision from the Office of the Governor to ensure alignment with state goals.
3. Advertise for a competitive consultancy bid to recruit experts who will train and select four lead agriculturalists from each county to manage and benefit from the project funds.
4. Strengthen the Accountability, establish a robust Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework at the project's launch to track progress, ensure financial transparency, and meet all delivery deadlines.
About author: he is a practicing reseracher and a Journalist.
This article represent author's view, Bentiu Ground News is not responsible. We own the right to article, we share it.
