The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) supply of 10 000 tonnes of seeds, at the start of this year’s planting season, to 1 million farming households – 5 million people within 16 out of the 18 states in Sudan has started yielding good harvests to the resilient growers amidst the ongoing war crisis in the country.
The seeds supply, according to FOA teams working with the farmers, was to ensure they could cultivate just in time for the critical planting season.
The outbreak of conflict in Sudan has upended the lives of millions of people. As of now, Sudan has become the largest displacement crisis in the world, with over 9 million people fleeing under fire and flame.
In fact, as conflict rages across Sudan, agriculture – a key pillar of food and income – is jeopardized for millions of people.
However, some farmers have held the line and cultivate crops against the odds to feed their families – and the nation.
These farmers are holding steady on their plots. And they have no small task. Amid a catastrophic economic crisis, market disruptions and critical input shortages, national agricultural production is expected to drop. This translates into eroded incomes and rising hunger.
Smallholder farmers are not only the nation’s backbone of food security. Sudan once heralded the title of future breadbasket for all East Africa. But with nearly 18 million people facing crisis or worse levels of hunger, this accolade and people’s lives are in jeopardy. Farmers’ contributions are now more valuable than ever.
So far, the results of the farmers’ perseverance are starting to show. Ahead of FAO’s latest publication demonstrating crop progress set for release in March 2024, some of the farmers can afford smiling faces as they begin to witness the rewards.
In this, FAO thanks the Governments of Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and the United States of America, as well as the Central Emergency Response Fund and Sudan Humanitarian Fund, for their generous support to ensure every seed counts.
