Geneva (ANTARA News/Xinhua-OANA) - At least 4.1 million people in South Sudan are likely to face food insecurity this year, including more than one million expected to be severely food insecure despite increased harvest.

A report jointly released Friday by the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) showed that food production increased by more than 35 percent between 2011 and 2012 because of good rains, improved cultivation practices and expanded area under cultivation.

However, there would still be nearly 40 percent of the country`s population that will have trouble getting enough to eat at some time during the year, it said.

The report also warned that increased conflicts and economic instability could increase the number of people requiring food assistance by more than a million.

The WFP plans to provide food and nutrition assistance to about 2.8 million people, including food insecure rural families, vulnerable children, internally displaced people, refugees and returnees.

The FAO is implementing agricultural relief and rehabilitation projects and longer-term capacity building projects in South Sudan.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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