Farmer Criticizes New Fees Imposed by Gezira Scheme Administration

Sudan Events – Rehab Abdullah

Agricultural engineer and farmer Kamel Sari, from the northern Gezira Scheme, criticized the administration’s decision to impose new transportation fees on crops, set at 25,000 Sudanese pounds per feddan.

Sari said the administration’s timing was inappropriate, arguing that it has failed to provide essential services to the project and its farmers—such as fertilizers and agricultural samples for the summer season. “Failure continues to be our companion this season,” he told Al-Ahdath.

Despite this, he noted that farmers have shown understanding of the administration’s challenges, acknowledging that the situation is largely beyond its control due to the ongoing war. However, he urged the administration to also recognize the severe difficulties farmers are facing.

Sari stressed that the imposed fees are excessively high and nearly impossible to collect under current conditions. He called for them to be reduced to encourage compliance, warning that insisting on enforcement in this manner would yield negative consequences.

He also underlined the need for transparency and a new approach to farmer–administration relations in the future, stressing the importance of consensus and cooperation to safeguard the nation’s food security.