Nairobi, Kenya — Today marks the one-year anniversary of the conflict between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), leading to widespread hunger and displacement of millions of Sudanese. Despite the challenges, some farmers are receiving support from a British aid organization.
On April 15, 2023, the sound of gunfire and military aircraft filled the air as the Sudanese army and RSF clashed for control of Khartoum, the capital.
The violence made it difficult for humanitarian aid groups to provide food and for farmers in conflict zones to plant crops. The fighting resulted in thousands of deaths and millions being forced from their homes.
Practical Action, a U.K.-based aid organization, is working with farmers in unaffected states to combat hunger and improve economic conditions. The group is assisting over 200,000 farmers and families.
Muna Eltahir, the country director of Practical Action Sudan, emphasized the organization’s focus on alleviating food insecurity. Projects in Al-Gedaref, Kassala, and the Blue Nile aim to increase production and productivity for small farmers through seed provision and knowledge sharing.
The United Nations reports that over 18 million Sudanese are food insecure, with many in conflict zones.
Jalal Babiker, leader of the Elekhia Farmers Association, highlighted the increased production and cultivation efforts in his area. Collaborating with Practical Action, farmers in Kassala state are cultivating potatoes across designated areas to improve self-sufficiency.
Residents of Kassala state, previously reliant on other regions for produce, are now focusing on local cultivation due to disrupted supply chains.
Babiker expressed optimism for the future of agriculture in Sudan, despite warnings from the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights about escalating conflict.
Eltahir expressed concerns about the impact of the war on their work with farmers, fearing looting and destruction of cultivated land.
Calls for a ceasefire from international agencies have gone unanswered, as the conflict continues to escalate.
