Bor: A South Korean military contingent, known as the Hanbit unit, has participated in a rice-harvesting event at Dr. John Garang Memorial University of Science and Technology in Bor, South Sudan. This initiative is part of South Korea's efforts to assist South Sudan in dealing with severe food shortages. According to Yonhap News Agency, the rice-harvesting event is a segment of a broader agricultural aid program by the Hanbit unit aimed at improving local farming capabilities. In July, the contingent planted various Korean and African rice varieties over an area of 1,150 square meters within the university compound. The recent harvest yielded approximately 500 kilograms of rice. This produce, along with rice seeds, was distributed to the local residents, while the remaining rice will be used for research to boost future harvests. The event also celebrated the reopening of a vocational agriculture school managed by the Hanbit unit. The school, which had been closed due to flooding in 2022, is crucial for th e project that aims to enhance the agricultural technologies in South Sudan. Since its establishment in 2014, the unit has also been involved in cultivating corn and other crops to mitigate local food scarcities. Further plans include expanding rice cultivation to a larger field of 10,800 square meters and establishing an agricultural technology center at the university. This center will serve as a training hub for students and nearby residents, passing on vital farming techniques. The Hanbit unit was first deployed to South Sudan in 2013, following the outbreak of a civil war, with the dual purpose of maintaining peace and assisting in national recovery efforts. The latest troop rotation occurred last month, with approximately 270 South Korean soldiers undertaking an eight-month mission in the country.
