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August 4, 2024 (Port Sudan) – Sudan’s agriculture minister on Sunday ordered modern irrigation companies to devote 10 percent of their land to sorghum production to address a growing food crisis as conflict disrupts agriculture.
On August 1, the United Nations declared famine in camps for displaced persons in North Darfur state, raising fears of a massive outbreak as fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group enters its fifth month.
Agriculture Minister Omar al-Beshri also directed local authorities to provide seeds for mandatory sorghum planting, noting that the Rapid Aid Force had invaded key agricultural areas and disrupted supply chains.
“The RSF’s encroachment on production areas and the threat to the season requires urgent action,” Al-Beshri said, according to a government statement.
The conflict has brought agricultural production to a standstill in parts of Al Jazira and Sennar states, two breadbasket regions where the Rapid Support Forces have taken control of large territories. Looting of machinery, fuel shortages and insecurity have prevented farmers from planting crops.
Ibrahim Mustafa, manager of the Al Jazira irrigation project, said the area of cultivated land has been reduced to 505,000 acres this season, less than half of the initial target of 1.1 million acres.
He accused the Rapid Aid Force of destroying irrigation infrastructure, tractors and other equipment, and looting seeds and fertilizers.
RSF did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Yasir Mukhtar, the agriculture representative of White Nile State, another important agricultural region, said that the cultivated land area in the state has also been greatly reduced. Currently, only 1.3 million acres of land is cultivated, far below the planned 3.3 million acres.
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