Azande King Atoroba Peni Rikito Gbudue Leads Agricultural Revolution in the Royal Kingdom

Yambio – In a historic move, the King of the Azande Kingdom, Atoroba Peni Rikito Gbudue, announced the launch of commercialized Agriculture Systems aimed at transforming the livelihoods of the people within the kingdom.

The royal initiative, unveiled at the Royal Palace Bazungua, is set to bolster food security, generate income, and combat hunger and poverty among the kingdom’s residents.

Expressing gratitude to the President of South Sudan, His Excellency Comrade Salvar Kiir Mayardit, for restoring the Azande Kingdom, King Atoroba emphasized the importance of agriculture during the launch event.

“Today, we are embarking on agricultural endeavors to ensure that every individual in the kingdom has access to sufficient food, avenues for income generation, and opportunities to alleviate hunger and poverty,” declared the King.

Encouraging self-sufficiency, King Atoroba urged all citizens to cultivate their own land, stressing that every man and woman should possess one feddan.

He also called upon partners operating within the kingdom to provide support in the form of agricultural tools and seeds to enhance agricultural productivity. The ambitious goal is to establish 100 feddans across Yambio, Nzara, and Ibba.

The commendable initiative received praise from the Deputy Governor of Western Equatoria State, Hon. Dr. Kennedy Gaaniko Baime, who lauded the kingdom’s efforts to promote agriculture within the state. Dr. Baime highlighted the potential of agriculture in eradicating hunger and poverty while supporting education by facilitating the payment of school fees through farming activities.

Donating essential farming tools and equipment, Dr. Gaaniko reiterated the significance of land ownership for sustainable agriculture within the community. He pledged to spearhead a resource mobilization day to further support the Azande agriculture systems, assuming the role of Chairperson of resource mobilization for the kingdom.

Acknowledging the fertility of Western Equatoria State, Mr. Francis Mwana, the head of the UNFAO field office, commended the region’s agricultural potential. With two seasons annually and diverse crop varieties, Mwana encouraged farmers to seize the opportunity to maximize agricultural productivity, affirming that the state has the capacity to feed the entire country.

The event, graced by dignitaries, community leaders, partners from UNFAO, UNHCR, Solidarity Riimenze, as well as youths, women, and farmers, marks a significant milestone in the Azande Kingdom’s journey towards agricultural prosperity and economic empowerment for its citizens.