South Sudan seeks to tackle food shortages

JUBA, South Sudan, Oct 27 (AFP): South Sudan will introduce a series of measures to ward off a looming food crisis in light of spiraling food prices and shortages in the newly independent nation and neighbouring countries. Commerce Minister Garang Diing Akuong said plans for a sugar project, brewery and fruit cannery were part of the government's strategy to promote agriculture, revive industry and diversify the resource-rich nation's economy from a 98 per cent dependence on oil. But the immediate worry is to tackle food shortages and skyrocketing prices due to "low production, the closure of borders with Sudan and the high cost of production," Akuong said. "In South Sudan we have never produced enough food for ourselves", Akuong said of the import-dependent nation that is now landlocked since it seceded from Sudan in July.