The ongoing war in Sudan is jeopardizing the nation’s largest agricultural project, which is crucial for food security. The conflict has disrupted operations, causing concerns among farmers and agricultural experts about a decline in production this season.
The Al-Gazira Scheme is one of the largest irrigation projects in the world. It is centered on the Sudanese state of Al-Gezira, just southeast of the confluence of the Blue and White Nile rivers at the city of Khartoum.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj Thursday, Mohammed Abdullah, a Sudanese farmer, highlighted the challenges facing the project’s planting season due to the prolonged war. “Accessing fuel has become a major obstacle for farms, along with the high costs of agricultural preparations,” Abdullah stated.
Omar Jadain, another farmer, explained that the agricultural season in the Al-Gazira Scheme has been impacted by the presence of the Rapid Support Forces in the area. He noted that many people, including farmers and employees, have left the scheme, posing a significant threat to the project’s operations.
Al-Samul Hassan, an agricultural expert, emphasized the significant impact of the war on the agricultural sector in the Al-Jazeera Scheme. He attributed this to the lack of security and the delayed arrival of essential agricultural inputs like seeds and fertilizers, which poses a direct threat to the country’s food security.
In December of last year, the Rapid Support Forces seized control of Wad Madani, Sudan’s second-largest city, home to the Al-Gazira Scheme.
Since April, Sudan has experienced armed conflicts between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, resulting in thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions of Sudanese within and outside the country.