The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is urging local farmers in Twic County of Warrap state to consider rice farming to navigate the impact of regular flooding on other crops.
Farmers in the area cultivate mostly sorghum. But the crops are often destroyed by floods.
NRC has now trained 10 households in rice production in Aweng, Wunrok and Turalei Payams. The farmers have been encouraged by the increase in their rice production from 50 to 100 feddans this year.
Experts say rice farming contributes to lower cost of production in terms of labour and water saving, and produce higher yields that creates positive impact on income for farmers. They also say rice farming consistently has the lowest soil erosion on a per-acre basis compared to other crops. Rice is planted with no or minimal tillage into previous crop residue and protect the soil from erosion and loss of nutrients.
NRC Agriculture Project Officer encouraged local farmers to invest in rice production to receive high yields and create jobs. He also advised the trainees to spread the skill on rice farming to others.
“If you are registered in a place like Mangok village…teach others. If you earned seeds like you get some sacks, try to bring up other people; give one to two ‘Malwa’ of rice to other people so that they can know the benefit of planting rice,” Robert Ring Dut said.
Some residents who spoke to Mayardit FM welcomed the move and urged the NGO to extend the program to other areas.
Last year, local farmers in Mangok Amuol village harvested 80 sacks of rice from a 27 feddans field. Each sack weight 50kgs.