FAO distributes seeds to 134,000 Sudanese families to combat famine

December 21, 2025 (KHARTOUM) – The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has launched a seed distribution campaign for 134,000 farming households to bolster winter crop production in Sudan, the agency said on Sunday.

The initiative comes as 21.2 million people—roughly half the population—face crisis levels of hunger. Famine was officially declared in El Fasher and Kadugli on Nov. 3, with experts warning the catastrophe could spread to 20 additional districts across Darfur and Kordofan.

“The large-scale campaign supports the winter season to counter deteriorating food security and nutrition,” the FAO said in a statement.

The distribution began in November in Khartoum state, a frontline conflict zone and a critical hub for vegetable production. The program will run through January, targeting 670,000 individuals across 10 states, including Al-Jazirah, Blue Nile, Gedaref, and Kassala.

Farmers are receiving seeds for staple crops and vegetables, such as onions, tomatoes, okra, and cucumbers, to improve household nutrition and create income opportunities.

Agriculture is the backbone of Sudan’s economy, employing 80% of the workforce and contributing nearly 32% of GDP, according to central bank data. The FAO warned that missing the planting window would deepen poverty and undermine any prospect of recovery.

“Restoring local food production is critical,” said Hongjie Yang, FAO Representative in Sudan. “This campaign empowers conflict-affected families to resume farming and rebuild livelihoods.”

The U.S.-backed IPC hunger monitor estimates that 3.7 million children under five, along with pregnant and breastfeeding women, require urgent malnutrition treatment.

The UN warns that 33.7 million people will need humanitarian aid in 2026, as conflict-driven displacement and disease continue to ravage the country.