Minister of Agriculture Calls on the International Community for Urgent Support to Ensure a Successful Agricultural Season

The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Dr. Abu Bakr Omar Al-Bushra, called on the international community and donors to provide urgent technical support to ensure the success of the agricultural season.

During his statement on food security challenges and their drivers at the 176th regular session of the FAO Council, held from December 2 to 6 in Rome, the minister pointed to conflicts as one of the main causes of food insecurity, exacerbating humanitarian crises.

He outlined the government’s efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to all citizens trapped in states controlled by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), by opening all corridors and airports, in addition to providing basic services in areas recaptured from the RSF. These efforts align with the voluntary return of citizens to their regions and the significant victories of the armed forces in reclaiming cities previously controlled by the militia.

The minister stressed that the RSF used starvation as a weapon, while their backers promoted famine narratives to serve hidden agendas. However, he affirmed that Sudan would not face famine, given its vast natural resources and agricultural potential, enabling it to produce sufficient food. Sudan is also considered a critical area for FAO’s grain imports.

He highlighted his ministry’s focus on cultivated areas for key crops and the expected production based on current harvest indicators. The minister expressed gratitude to FAO and its staff, urging the international community and donors to offer further urgent technical support for the agricultural season. He also requested FAO’s assistance in conducting a comprehensive assessment of damages to the agricultural sector, infrastructure, and food production.

Furthermore, he called for plans addressing the medium- and long-term impacts of the conflict on food security, including immediate response measures, enhancing agricultural and food systems’ resilience, and mobilizing resources to rebuild agriculture, logistics, supply chains, and agricultural trade.

The minister concluded by highlighting a community-based humanitarian initiative, known as Takaya, as a model of resilience in areas besieged by RSF forces. He praised the contributions of Sudanese expatriates, which played a crucial role in supporting the initiative and alleviating the effects of war on displaced populations. He urged member states to learn from such grassroots voluntary initiatives as successful models.