A two-day livestock and agricultural exhibition to promote animal production has been launched on Thursday in Terekeka County of Central Equatoria State.
Onyeti Adigo Nyikech, the Minister of Animal Resources and Fisheries while launching the exhibition, said the show aims to offer opportunities for the exchange of experience among cattle keepers in a bid to promote peace and unity.
“This livestock show and agriculture exhibition initiative are so important not only to encourage commercialization of livestock and agriculture, but also provide opportunities for exchange of experience by cattle keepers and farmers and to promote peace and unity among pastoralists,” said Adigo.
The show brought together owners of cattle and sheep to compete for animal production.
Adigo stressed the need to change the culture of keeping livestock for prestige.
“Joint efforts are needed to remove obstacles before the transformation of livestock stock to make differences,” he said.
Dr. Makuei Malual, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries, said the objective of the livestock show is to promote production.
“We are doing it because we want to encourage livestock keepers to make selections either for milk production or meat production,” Malual said.
Enyasio Ingak, Representative of Livestock Keepers, said the event is important to know which beef is healthy.
“This is a very good show and it is the first of it’s kind to happen in Terekeka. This show is organized to know which goat has more milk and meat,” Ingak said.
Meshack Malo, Country Director for the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) urged the private sector to invest in vaccines and medication for livestock.
“We are also happy that the private sector is beginning to invest in areas of vaccine and medicine, we believe the private sector should also take over strongly in areas of vaccine and medication,” Malo said.
Marjan Schipper, Head of the Kingdom of Netherlands Embassy in Juba, said the objective of the exhibition is to promote commercialization of livestock.
“This event is a great step forward to commercializing the livestock sector in South Sudan because South Sudan livestock population is estimated to be about 57 million cattle, sheep, and goats,” he said.
