VP Taban Deng calls for end to aid dependency, urges youth to farm

Vice President for Infrastructure Cluster Taban Deng Gai has called on citizens to end reliance on humanitarian food aid and address what he described as a dependency syndrome across the country.

Speaking on local food production and self-reliance at an event in Juba on Sunday, September 6, Vice President Taban stated that receiving relief food from international agencies since 1983 has made people lazy to farm and increased dependency on food aid.

Addressing residents during a visit to Kuerbowni in Guit County, Unity State, the Vice President urged communities to cultivate land and reserve food support for working individuals.

“People face poverty, but dependence on the United Nations since 1983 created a dependency syndrome. Depending on someone to provide food must stop,” Vice President Taban said.

“To change this habit, I started in my home area to set an example for South Sudan. I told them to stop handouts and stop asking for food from neighbors when someone refuses to farm.”

Taban noted that older residents in Guit County cultivated crops this season despite drought conditions. However, he pointed to low youth participation in agriculture, stating that young people in Rubkona town spend time playing cards and dominoes while relying on crops harvested by elderly relatives.

The Vice President urged households to stop giving food to individuals who do not farm and encouraged young people to engage in trade and manual labor.

“I am appealing to you to stop giving handouts to people who refuse to work,” Taban said. “Work hard. Repairing bicycles in town is work for youth.”