Sudan’s 2024 cereal harvest at risk as conflict threatens food security
August 7, 2024 (PORT SUDAN) – The ongoing conflict in Sudan is casting a long shadow over the country’s 2024 cereal harvest, raising alarms about food security in a nation already grappling with soaring food prices and widespread displacement, said FAO in a short report on Wednesday.
“Planting of 2024 cereal crops, for harvest from November 2024, will be concluded in mid-August. Generally favourable weather conditions prevailed so far, benefiting sowing operations,” stated the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
However, the conflict’s spread to key southeastern producing areas, coupled with severe access constraints – in Sennar, White Nile, and Blue Nile states – to land and persistent shortages of agricultural inputs, is expected to significantly hinder yields. Many large-scale farm owners have been forced to flee the country, further exacerbating the situation, underscored the report.
The 2023 cropping season has already been severely impacted by the conflict, resulting in a 46% decline in cereal production compared to the previous year. The government-led Annual Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission estimates the 2023 cereal output at a mere 4.1 million tonnes, a stark 40% below the five-year average.
In Sudan’s breadbasket, the Al-Jazirah Scheme, cultivation has plummeted by 72% in the Al-Manaqil and Al-Musallamiya sections this summer compared to last. While the army controls eight sections of the scheme, including Al-Manaqil, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) hold the remaining ten. The paramilitary group stands accused of pillaging vital agricultural resources, including machinery, seeds, and fertiliser.
To mitigate the crisis, the FAO is assisting 1.8 million farmer households across 17 states, providing seeds, locust control, livestock support, and essential farming equipment. However, the conflict’s impact on agricultural production, coupled with limited financial and logistical capacity, raises concerns about Sudan’s ability to meet its estimated 3.38 million tonnes of cereal import requirements for 2024.
The conflict has also fueled a dramatic surge in cereal prices, which had already been rising due to macroeconomic challenges. Since the outbreak of hostilities in March 2023, prices of domestically produced sorghum and millet, as well as mostly imported wheat, have more than doubled in almost all monitored markets. These record-high prices, combined with reduced household purchasing power due to the conflict’s impact on employment, are severely limiting food access for millions of Sudanese.