Agriculture is an important employer in Sudan, with around 80% of the working population employed along the agriculture value chain. The country is a major producer and exporter of sesame seeds, groundnuts and cotton.
Conflict is perhaps the biggest threat to sustainable food production in Sudan. Not only has it resulted in the displacement of millions of people, but it has also led to a lack of foreign investment and a crash in the economy, which has seen farmers unable to access finance to plant crops.
Conflict in the country has been ongoing for many years, and a military coup in October 2021 saw a resurgence of ‘ethnic’ wars. What’s more, at the end of August 2022, following a five-month ceasefire, conflict between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front in Ethiopia and the Ethiopian government again ensued. Farmers from Sudan who lived along that country’s shared border with Ethiopia are concerned over the resumption of these hostilities. Sudanese farmers told the Sudan Tribune that they were concerned about what the heavy artillery would mean for their crops and livestock.
Farmer-nomad conflict is also an ongoing problem in Sudan, and the expected influx of refugees from Ethiopia will also have a negative impact on food security.
A May 2022 project initiated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will see 180 000 households (900 000 people) in Sudan, including the most vulnerable farming and pastoralist communities, receive agricultural support over a period of time.
Bu hikaye Farmer's Weekly dergisinin September 16, 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Farmer's Weekly dergisinin September 16, 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Understanding eye conditions in horses: causes and first aid
A horse can get a swollen eye from bumping it against a tree, shaking its head to keep flies away, or even snake venom
IPM requires a completely different mindset
You need to investigate any beneficial insects that may appear on your plants, or you can purchase them
Does parrot farming protect wild species?
Those in favour of commercial captive breeding argue that breeding parrots to sell can relieve pressure on wild populations. Researchers Neil D'Cruze and Rowan Martin review the evidence.
Bacterial and fungal diseases of garlic
Garlic can be prone to bacterial and fungal diseases, and it's important that farmers are proactive in preventing infection and practise appropriate management. Magda du Toit reports.
Responsible wastewater management: a crucial part of farming
The inadequate management of waste water is a challenge that the agriculture sector needs to deal with. Magda du Toit spoke to experts in waste and water management about a cost-effective treatment system.
Technology that can help protect South Africa's farms
Farm attacks, murders, livestock and crop theft, and other rural crimes are a growing concern in South Africa. As a result, more and more farmers are turning to advanced security technology to protect their lives, properties, and livelihoods. Sinenhlanhla Mncwango spoke to experts about the security strategies that producers can adopt to combat these threats.
The impact of theft on farms in South Africa
A high number of livestock are being stolen every year in South Africa. Insurance is expensive and farmers are battling to find solutions to the problem, says Dr Lindie von Maltitz, agricultural economics lecturer in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of the Free State.
Staying afloat amid the cost-price squeeze
John Hudson, head of agriculture at Nedbank Commercial Banking, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the importance of environmental and social sustainability for a prosperous agriculture sector.
Free State has no reason to mark Transport Month
Free State Agriculture (FSA) is very concerned about the extremely poor state of rural paved and gravel roads in the province and has very little, if anything, to celebrate during Transport Month, which takes place every October.
SA's food system ‘vulnerable to climate change'
The Just Transition Agenda for Food System Policymaking in SA webinar, hosted by the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) in October, highlighted the role that South Africa’s food system plays in contributing to climate change and how vulnerable it is to the impact thereof.
