The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has welcomed South Sudan as its newest member.

The agency welcomed its new member -state at its 38th Session taking place in Rome this week.

“South Sudan which has just emerged from war years does not need to be hungry anymore,” Agriculture Minister Dr. Betty Achan Ogwaro told the Rome Conference.

85% of people relaying on agriculture, according to Dr. Achan.

“For the citizens, agriculture is more than food, and it is central to the healing process,” she added.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Head of Office of FAO in South Sudan, Rajendra Aryal, told Eye Radio that South Sudan accession to the F-A-O Member State Status is great news to both the country and to the UN:

“This is a unique opportunity for us to welcome South Sudan as a newest member –country and specially the country where agriculture is a key to food security, growth and peace.”

F-A-O is currently working in partnership with the Government to implement the Agriculture and Food Security Information System.

The three year project running from 2013-to-2015 is funded by the European Union to support the institutionalization of a food security information system.