UN food body calls for $6 million to avert rainfall shortage in Sudan
September 29, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) urged donor countries Tuesday to provide USD 6 million to help rural families to prevent potential rainfall shortages in west and south-west Sudan.
A recent assessment conducted by the FAO found there is a high risk of crop failures and low production for harvest period next year due to the below -average rainfall in the country particularity in Darfur region, South and West Kordofan states
The report further said that the rainfall shortage will hit small-scale farmers and pastoralists who form the majority of the farmers in Sudan’s poor rural areas.
“FAO is seeking USD 6 million to enhance the resilience of 125,000 extremely vulnerable farming and pastoralist families (750,000 people) who are affected by the rainfall shortages,” says a statement the FAO extended to Sudan Tribune on Tuesday.
To mitigate the impacts of the rainfall shortage, the international organization plans to use this money to provide the affected families with vegetable and legume seeds, tools, planting support, livestock fodder to enable them to grow more food during the winter farming season that runs from November 2015 to March 2016.
“Ensuring the availability of local nutritious food and income-generating opportunities is the best way to save the lives of rural families who have been the hardest hit by the rainfall shortage in Sudan,” says Rosanne Marchesich, FAO Representative a.i. in Sudan.
The assessment was completed for 80 localities, with data collection led by state ministries with FAO field offices and covering rainfall up to September 10, 2015, the statement underlined.
(ST)