UNDP, the UN Development Program, has today launched the first Africa Human Development Report 2012 titled “Towards Food Secure Future” outlining recommendations to strengthening food security to foster human development.
UNDP Country Director George Conway told the participants at the launch in Juba that the agency with help the Government of South Sudan to achieve a food-secure future.He explained that the new UN Development Assistance Framework has put food security as the top goal for South Sudan.
Mr Conway added UNDP in partnership Food and Agriculture Organization, World Food Programme and UNICEF will support the government to integrate the issues of food security.
UN Humanitarian Coordinator Lise Grande said 54 countries in Africa are facing threatening food issues.
She said in South Sudan 4.7 million people, about half of the population, are food insecure, and the cereal deficit has hit 470,000 tons.
Mr Grande added that food prices are rising and one kilo of sorghum doubled in Northern Bahr El Ghazal in a two-week period.
National Agriculture Minister Betty Achan Ogwaro said her priority is to bring all food production development partners together to draft a master plan for South Sudan.
She said the master plan will enable South Sudan to feed itself and export food in three years.
The first Africa Human Development Report 2012 outlined key recommendations to improve agricultural productivity, and empowering the rural women by providing access to information about markets.