Minister of Agriculture Requests the United Nations to Include Sudan in the “Hand in Hand” Initiative

The Federal Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Abubakar Al-Bushra, during his meeting on Friday with the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on the sidelines of the 176th session of the FAO Council, called for support for the winter season, particularly in providing inputs (fertilizers and pesticides), in addition to Sudan’s inclusion in the “Hand in Hand” initiative. This initiative is a strategic and important one that can achieve Sudan’s priorities regarding the transformation of agricultural and food systems.

Dr. Al-Bushra expressed his gratitude to the FAO Director-General and staff, especially the regional and country offices, for their steadfast support to Sudan during this critical period.

Al-Bushra stated that Sudan had joined the initiative and started some arrangements, but due to the war, no progress has been made on the ground. Sudan seeks FAO’s technical support and resource mobilization for investment.

He also mentioned that the report from the Council’s meetings requested that Sudan conduct a comprehensive assessment of the damage to the agricultural sector and the infrastructure for food production, as well as the costs for reconstruction and rehabilitation. Immediate medium- and long-term plans need to be prepared to address the effects of conflict on food security, including emergency responses, building agricultural and food systems’ resilience, and mobilizing resources for the reconstruction and rebuilding of the agricultural sector, logistics services, supply chains, agricultural products’ value, and trade. Additionally, the rebuilding of technical capacities and infrastructure, such as research centers, gene banks, and extension services, along with building capacity in agricultural statistics, indicators production, and digital innovation for sustainable rural transformation, focusing on programs targeting small farmers, youth, and women.

The FAO Director-General agreed with Sudan’s demands and promised to provide all the necessary support.