16 October 2012 – Nine local farmers with the best agricultural produce from Western Bahr El-Ghazal will travel to Juba and then China to learn improved farming methods, the state government's Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Irrigation said today.

Ms. Lillian Rizik made the announcement at a three-day agricultural exhibition and competition that her ministry organized to commemorate World Food Day in the state capital of Wau. The minister added that any encouragement of local farmers to raise the quality of their produce would also help to improve the state's food security.

Ms. Rizik said the theme for this year's celebration of World Food Day is "agricultural cooperatives – key to feeding the world."

"This is (also) the theme for our exhibition," she added. "I encourage local farmers in the state to intensify their efforts ... to eradicate hunger in our state."

She added that the exhibition will be held annually.

UNMISS and the Kenya Battalion provided the state government with logistical support for the exhibition such as a generator, a public address system and tents.

According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, the 2012 theme was chosen to highlight the contribution of farming cooperatives towards bolstering food security and contributing to the eradication of hunger.

The UN General Assembly also designated 2012 the "International Year of Cooperatives" to underline its interest in cooperatives and rural organisations.

Farmers from different counties of Western Bahr El-Ghazal state participated in the colourful exhibition, which featured many agricultural products that were cultivated during this year's rainy season in South Sudan.