The Sudanese government has prioritized the agricultural season, recognizing its importance in ensuring food security and promoting economic and social stability. However, the current season's preparations have been hampered by the ongoing war, economic pressures, and fuel shortages, posing significant challenges to production. The agricultural sector's performance has become a matter of national security, with the country's ability to protect its food security being tested.
Reports from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations have highlighted a decline in rainfall during the June-September 2026 season, affecting crop germination and growth in key production areas. The war has also disrupted the production base, rendering large areas of land unproductive and hindering farmers' access to finance, supplies, and markets. Furthermore, the cost of production inputs has increased, and the ability to access markets has been compromised.
Despite these challenges, Sudan still possesses the necessary resources, land, and productive capacities to overcome the crisis, provided that these assets are leveraged through effective policies and urgent interventions. The recent directives from President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, focusing on providing and operating solar-powered irrigation systems for mechanized agricultural projects, aim to address fuel and electricity shortages. The success of these initiatives depends on their implementation, expansion, and integration into a comprehensive plan to ensure irrigation, production inputs, and financing.
In a related development, the Governor of Gezira State, Tahir Ibrahim al-Kheir, has called on banks to increase their financing of the winter agricultural season in the Gezira and Rahad projects. The banking sector's return to Gezira State should not only involve the restoration of branches and services but also contribute to the revival of production through farmer financing and the provision of urgent needs. The 2024 experience, where a national committee was established to rescue the agricultural season, demonstrated that coordinated efforts can mitigate the effects of war and maintain the country's productive capacity.
In 2024, the emergency committee, led by Engineer Ibrahim Jaber, coordinated efforts to sustain production in available states and regions. FAO data later confirmed that grain production reached approximately 6.7 million tons, a 60% increase from 2023. The support project for wheat production, implemented by the World Food Programme with funding from the African Development Bank, achieved production of around 645,000 tons during the 2023-2024 season. These outcomes underscore the importance of institutional coordination, resource mobilization, and farmer support in limiting the impact of war.
The current situation highlights the responsibility of the Sudanese government and its institutions. The Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation is tasked with leading an urgent intervention to identify threatened areas, secure seeds and fertilizers, and manage the Gezira project to ensure sustainable water supply and efficient operation. The Ministry of Finance must provide necessary funding and guarantees for agricultural financing, while the private sector, banks, and agricultural investment companies are encouraged to engage in partnerships to provide financing, inputs, and solar-powered systems.
The agricultural season has become a national security imperative, reflecting the state's ability to protect its resources and transform them into productive forces. Food security is not only a matter of ensuring the population's sustenance but also a component of the political and media struggle accompanying the war. The international image of Sudan and its influence on global positions are affected by the humanitarian situation and production decline.
Key points
- Sudan's agricultural sector faces significant challenges due to climate change, war, and economic pressures.
- The government has launched initiatives to support the agricultural sector, including providing solar-powered irrigation systems and increasing financing for the winter agricultural season.
- The agricultural season's success is crucial for Sudan's food security, national stability, and international image.
