Wau — South Sudan Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Betty Achan Ogwaro joined famers in celebrating the first Country World Food Day in Western Bahr el Ghazal state Capital Wau under the theme of Agriculture cooperative the key to feeding the South Sudan.

Achan, was accompanied by the Country Director for Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Suzan Lautze and Deputy Country Director /Support Service UN World Food Progremme (WFP) Mr. Stephen Kearney.

The Celebration was officially organized by the state Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Irrigation as part of Agriculture products show for the state farmers.

The day was also graced by the state government official headed by the state governor Rizik Zakaria Hassan, state Assembly speaker Hon. Andrea Mayar Acho, state cabinet ministers along with state security organs.

The Agriculture show which involved the state local farmers from three Counties in the state to view their year Agricultural products, Maize, Groundnuts, Bananas, Cassava, Sorghum, including Lulu Oil from Mapel, Dura, Pumpkin, Okra as well as other products.

Dr. Achan told famers from the three counties in the state that the government of South Sudan has plans to provide eligible farmers in each state with tractors to speed up with the agriculture activities than using the local hoes.

She clarified that the tractors which will be given as a support to the eligible farmers will be provided on instalment credit payments base.

"We are very delighted to tell you that our Country South Sudan will not continue depending on foods export from our neighbouring Countries because we need to produce our own food in order to reduce high food prices in the market, said Achan

While speaking during the occasion, the state minister for Agriculture Lilain Valentino Rizik said that they in Western Bahr El Ghazal State were very glad that the counties operating within the town were moving out their headquarters, especially Wau and Jur River Counties as part of extending Agriculture service to the people.

South Sudan National Bureau of Statistic shows that 4 million of South Sudanese live below the poverty line which means that 51 per cent of South Sudanese live on less than a $ 1per day, said Lilain.

"As the ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and irrigation, we have three main goals to achieve by 2015, the improvement of livelihood through Agriculture activities which is food security as our first priority, increase and modernization of Agriculture which is expected to lead to pro-poor and green value chains and sustainable forest management to preserve biodiversity of our national forest," she said.

"The time is ripe for World Food Programme in South Sudan to reassess its role and to be prepared to use the appropriate tools to address the root causes of food insecurity and not be reliant on general food distribution," said WFP Deputy Country Director Mr. Stephen Kearney.

"This does not mean that we stop unconditional support to the most vulnerable groups but it does mean we look to working with communities to build resilience and long term food security from within," he said.

"As Agriculture remains the main source of employment and income in rural areas, is where the majority of the world's poor and hungry people live, and rural agricultural cooperatives play key role in feeding the world," he said.