Bird Infestation Destroys Sorghum Crop

Farmers in White Nile submitted an urgent memorandum to the Chairman of the Sovereignty Council, signed by Abdelbaki Al-Awad Mohamed Noor, head of the Rainfed Agriculture Farmers Association, complaining about the lack of fuel for agriculture. They indicated that farmers had managed to secure fuel on their own, with diesel prices reaching 40,000 Sudanese pounds per gallon. The memo also highlighted unprecedented rainfall this season.

The memo revealed that the sorghum crop is currently in the ripening stage but is being severely damaged by flocks of birds. Despite informing the Plant Protection Department and the Ministry of Agriculture about the critical situation on August 25, no action has been taken, and no spraying planes have been sent to combat the birds. Farmers reported that the birds have already destroyed the eastern portion of the Al-Muqaynis projects, and they fear that the remaining area, exceeding 3 million acres, will be wiped out soon. They criticized both central and state authorities for neglecting the issue.

Serr Adam Jamaa, a member of the farmers’ association, criticized the Ministry of Agriculture’s handling of the agricultural season. He noted that some individuals managed to obtain fuel, while many farmers were denied approval for diesel despite paying required fees. He added that diesel is available in the black market, and any farmer has the right to inquire about the money they paid, even seeking legal recourse if necessary, as no official decree from the Ministry of Finance has been issued regarding the collection of these fees.