SUDAN / AGRICULTURE

The government of South Sudan is attracting agricultural investors by giving them eight to thirty-two year renewable leases. The new deal allows investors tax free importation of tractors, seeds and other farming materials. UNMIS

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:35
• Production Date: 27 October 2009
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS ASSISTANCE MISSION IN SUDAN - UNMIS
• Subject Topical: AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; FISHING
• Geographic Subject: SRI LANKA
• MAMS Id: U091027e

Description

STORY: SUDAN / AGRICULTURE
TRT: 2:35
SOURCE: UNMIS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
DATELINE OCTOBER 27 - 2009 JUBA, SUDAN

DATELINE: OCTOBER 27, 26 - 2009 JUBA, SUDAN

Shotlist

OCTOBER 27 - 2009 JUBA, SUDAN

1. Wide shot, Ministry of Agriculture building
2. Close up, Ministry sign

OCTOBER 26 - 2009 JUBA, SUDAN

3. Wide shot, Asian Ambassadors meeting with Samson Kwaje Minister of Agriculture
4. Med shot, Ambassadors from India and Malaysia
5. Close up, South Korean official
6. Wide shot, Samson Kwaje Minister of Agriculture
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Samson Kwaje, Minister of Agriculture
“We are taking advantage of investment and promotion Act in Southern Sudan in that we are going to, they are allowed to bring in equipment, agricultural equipment input in terms of tractors in terms of seeds, free of customs in is in our investment area I think they are very happy to learn about this, will also fast truck for non Sudanese skilled workers in the field of Agriculture, obtaining visas and work permits”

FILE- DATE UNKNOWN, JUBA MARKET

8. Wide shot, Juba market
9. Med shot, imported fruits
10. Med shot, Juba market

OCTOBER 27 - 2009 JUBA, SUDAN

11. Wide shot, Ministry of Agriculture
12. Wide shot, meeting room
13. Med shot, Ambassadors from Russia and Japan
14. Med shot, officials from Malaysia
15. Med shot, Deepal Vohra, Ambassador of India and Dean of the Asian group of Ambassadors
16. SOUNDBITE (English) Deepal Vohra, Ambassador of India and Dean of the Asian group of Ambassadors
“We are going to spread the message and I centrally personally as an Indian belief that agriculture remains the key tool of the development of Southern Sudan not just in terms of food security but also employment and export earnings.“
17. Med shot, delegate taking picture
18. SOUNDBITE; (English) Samson Kwaje, Minister of Agriculture
“We would like also the farmers to come and train the Sudanese, satellite farmers around, leaves alone the workers who would gain experience when they work in these farms but also to give general training for the other farmers that are in the vicinity.”
19. Wide shot, Deepal Vohra, Ambassador of India giving the Minister a souvenir

Storyline

The southern government is now attracting agriculture investors by offering them 30 to 60 acres of land with a lease of eight to thirty two years.

The new deal will allow investors tax free importation of tractors seeds and agriculture materials. This was disclosed today by Samson Kwaje, Minister of Agriculture during a meeting with Asian Ambassadors in Juba, Southern Sudan.

The minister said that his ministry will facilitate visas and work permits for non Sudanese skilled laborers. There will also be no tax on any export for the first four years.

SOUNDBITE (English) Samson Kwaje, Minister of Agriculture:
“We are taking advantage of investment and promotion Act in Southern Sudan in that we are going to, they are allowed to bring in equipment, agricultural equipment input in terms of tractors in terms of seeds, free of customs in is in our investment area I think they are very happy to learn about this, will also fast truck for non Sudanese skilled workers in the field of Agriculture, obtaining visas and work permits”

Southern Sudan has seen virtually no development since the 1950s especially in the area of agriculture. Despite its vast and fertile land, the region imports over 70 to 80% of its food from East Africa. “We need to cut this down” said the minister.

SOUNDBITE (English) Deepal Vohra, Ambassador of India and Dean of the Asian group of Ambassadors:
“We are going to spread the message and I centrally personally as an Indian belief that agriculture remains the key tool of the development of Southern Sudan not just in terms of food security but also employment and export earnings.”

The ministry is also giving priority to the small local farmers by increasing the acreage of farmland. During the meeting the minister said that his ministry is encouraging local family farmers to produce enough food for family consumption the whole year and little bit for export.

The minister told the Asian Ambassadors that the investors would come not only to produce food either for internal food security or for export but would also impart knowledge to local farmers.

SOUNDBITE; (English) Samson Kwaje, Minister of Agriculture:
“We would like also the farmers to come and train the Sudanese, satellite farmers around leaves alone the workers who would gain experience when they work in these farms but also to give general training for the other farmers that are in the vicinity.”

The Ambassadors came from India, Japan Pakistan Malaysia, South Korea, Indonesia and Russia are visiting South Sudan for three days.