President of IFAD,

Honourable Members of the Governing Council,
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro, Minister of Animal Resources and Fisheries and Head of the delegation of the Republic of South Sudan. I unassumingly stand before you to communicate and express sincere gratitude and appreciation for the acceptance of the Republic of South Sudan, the world’s newest nation, as a non-original member of IFAD, on behalf of my Government and people.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

In my note, to H.E. President Kanayo Nwanze confirming my attendance of this very important multi-sector Congress of world leaders, I highlighted the agricultural  potential (both crop, livestock and fisheries) of South Sudan; emphasizing that my country with its enabling agricultural eco-system remain unexplored,

underdeveloped and natural, with a 90% population estimate of  12-15 million people.

Excellencies, the infant Government of the new Republic of South Sudan, has developed policies which is:

• Makes small holders agriculture the cornerstone of its socio-economic development and commits our oil-revenue to fuel agriculture;
• Gives a new approach  to take ownership of donor funded agricultural projects, both crop and livestock, to build-in exist strategies, sustainability and development;
•  Develops new sector policies and strategic plans and sector development projects designed to empower “smallholder agriculture”, and for the sector to take responsibility for food security and environment protection under the “Vision of transferring towns to the villages”.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Although agriculture and environmental protection sectors are amongst the priority areas of the infant government of the Republic of South Sudan, political challenges related to its peaceful separation from the Republic of Sudan, have drastically affected its resource envelop and hence the budgetary allocation to agriculture and environment.

Excellencies, I take the opportunity of this momentous gathering to confirm that the Republic of South Sudan strongly supports the theme of this meeting “Sustainable Smallholder Agriculture: feeding the world, protecting the planet”. As an infant government, and a new country, our challenges are many and diverse, and the expectation of our people extremely high. We appeal to IFAD’s Governing Council, member countries and the investors present in this meeting, to support the efforts of my government to strengthen and develop agriculture; giving more favourable consideration to the Republic of South Sudan than the other grown-up countries.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Once again, I thank you for approving the non-original membership application of the Republic of South Sudan. At this juncture, I have the pleasure to declare the unwavering commitment of my country to work closely with IFAD and to affirm that the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Nhial Deng Nhial, has expressly assented to IFAD’s Instrument of Accession on behalf of my President, H.E. General Salva Kiir Mayardit.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you once more with the assurances of my country’s highest regards.   

23 February 2012