Increasing sorghum and other grain prices have left Raja residents unable to feed their families.  

People living in Raja County, Western Bahr el Ghazal State, complain about skyrocketing grain prices and say they can barely feed their families.

According to Raja residents, 3.7 kilograms of sorghum, which was sold last month for 700 SSP, now costs 1,200 SSP. From 500 to 700 SSP, 3.7 kilograms of maize went up. According to Idriss, living and feeding have become too expensive.

Sorghum, maize, and groundnut prices have increased, she said. Buying 3.7 kilograms of sorghum will not be enough if you have ten or more family members without any money.

Several families are unable to purchase food since they just returned from refugee camps in neighboring countries, according to Adam Ramadan Ahmed.

In just the last month, prices have spiked up. Having been refugees until recently, the citizens have just returned from neighboring countries and do not have any resources to support themselves and only manage to cut firewood and poles for sale to buy food.”  

Kosho Dagigi Domoi, county chamber of commerce chair, acknowledged the problem of rising commodity prices, but attributed it to poor local food production and transport inaccessibility.

During the past four days, prices for dura (sorghum) have skyrocketed. We are now demanding Dura but sugar and other items are imported from Western Bahr el Ghazal State and Sudan,” he said.

According to Santino Selah, the executive director of Raja County, the local authorities are aware of the severe conditions.

“We just received the news yesterday that dura is not available, let alone the skyrocketing prices.” It is not available. Yesterday I went to the market and I came across someone selling very small quantities inside the store, “Selah” said.