The Yei Agricultural Training Centre says it is seeking partners to sponsor students to study at the institution, which offers training in agribusiness extension.

Currently only about 15 students are studying at the training centre in spite of the ongoing hunger crisis in parts of South Sudan.

Aggrey Lokolong, Director of Studies, says some students are currently going through a 9-month pilot programme to test a new curriculum. “A new nine month curriculum has been developed,” he told Radio Tamazuj.

“At the moment we have got 15 persons now currently being trained in these nine months,” he said, noting that the students are sponsored through donor support.

He urged other institutions to sponsor students to study at the Yei training centre.

“We are now working towards lobbying from various institutions, state governments, NGOs, private sectors, to advertise ourselves… so that in the long run they can be able to send in people for training, who can be paid.”

According to Lokolong, the centre aims to serve South Sudanese from all ten states, not only Central Equatoria: “It is a national institution,” he said.

However, he pointed to training statistics from recent years showing that Central Equatoria and Eastern Equatoria are the best represented states in terms of trainees, followed by Jonglei, Lakes and Northern Bahr al Ghazal.

“Some states are not well represented,” he acknowledged. 

To contact Radio Tamazuj with press releases, comments or information, write to radiotamazuj@gmail.com with full name and contact information.