US company expresses interest in wheat plantation in Sudan

October 22, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – A delegation from a US company met on Tuesday with officials in Sudan’s Gezira state to discuss investment opportunities in the field of agriculture.

According to Sudan official news agency (SUNA) the US company identified as “Treasure Resource” expressed particular interest in cultivating new varieties of wheat over an area 1,000 acres in the first stage as well as establishing new mills.

Gezira state Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Natural Resources Abdullah Mohamed Osman, in the meeting with the US company delegation welcomed their desire to pursue investments in his state.

Osman said his ministry is keen to take advantage of foreign expertise especially in the field of producing new wheat samples which would help increase productivity.

Analysts say that financing issues and debt facing farmers as well as lack of technology hinders the growth of agricultural sector in Sudan.

In 2010 the United States announced it was easing sanctions on agriculture equipment and services and gave six U.S. firms licenses to export to the East African nation.

Sudan has been under US economic sanctions since 1997 and remains on the US list of state sponsors of terror. At the time, Khartoum harboured Al-Qaeda’s late chief Osama bin Laden.

After 2003 sanctions were tightened over the conflict in the Darfur region and human rights violations in other parts of the country.

(ST)