The United Nations' food organization said Tuesday it has signed an agreement with China to bolster joint efforts to defeat hunger, increase agricultural production and improve rural livelihoods.

The Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization said its Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva has signed a memorandum of understanding with China's Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu which lays out terms and conditions for joint action and projects over a five-year period.

"The memorandum of understanding strengthens and takes our co-operation one step further," said Mr. Graziano da Silva.

The Asian powerhouse has already established a $30 million fund under the FAO's South-South Cooperation framework, placing more than 900 Chinese experts in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and South Pacific. They work with farmers and local institutions for at least two years to introduce advanced farming techniques.

That program will expand under the new agreement, with priority areas for further collaboration including Chinese institutions offering agricultural training for developing countries, as well as domestic technical collaboration on crop production, protection, processing and conservation.

Mr. Changfu said the ninth consecutive year of food production growth that China is experiencing is driven by advances in science and technology, with nearly 55% of the country's agriculture now mechanized.

Write to Michael Haddon at michael.haddon@dowjones.com
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 02, 2012 11:42 ET (15:42 GMT)
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