By John Agok
An American investor is eyeing to invest his 10 million U.S dollars into
farming in order to reap profits from agriculture sector that remains
neglected by many South Sudanese.
Doug Keesling, has pledged to build the capacity of local women to help
him undertake large-scale production and eradicate food insecurity
across the country.
Keesling, operates Diar foundation which he said will be distributing
seeds and fertilizers to local farmers in a bid to boost agricultural
production.
“Since agriculture is the backbone of this nation, we in Diar Foundation
tend to invest in agriculture sector to eradicate food insecurity. The
country has potential to produce enough food, and even export to other
countries,” he told journalists in Juba on Tuesday.
Keesling has dubbed his plan under the theme “South Sudan Will Never
Starve Again (SSWSA).
“We as Diar Women Foundation must feed 10 million South Sudanese
with 10 million USD and this is my dream,” he said.
According to UN agencies, 81 million South Sudanese are at risk of
severe hunger this year due to sub-national conflicts and heavy flooding
since last year.
In addirtion,1.4 million children are at risk of severe malnutrition.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) recently suspended
food rations to internally displaced persons and refugees in South Sudan
citing lack of donor support.
“After going to Rumbek of Lakes State and other states with an effort
to meet with Diar Women Foundation beneficiaries, I will also embark
on touring other 16 African countries including Ethiopia to have
feasibility study on food insecurity,” Keesling said.
“I Know pretty much that, South Sudanese are resilient as they emerged
from conflicts and with peaceful environment, they will develop and that
is through agricultural production,”
