Meeting the need for food security with more vegetables in Sudan

Most of Sudan’s 45 million people rely on farming for their livelihoods. More frequent and severe droughts and floods over past decades leads to the lives of farming families becoming ever more precarious, exacerbated by the erosion in governance and social protection systems that accelerates a vicious cycle of vulnerability, social tension, and poorly adapted coping strategies. Then, the outbreak of civil war in April 2023 saw the country descend rapidly into political upheaval, severe economic contraction and rampant violence. Many organizations stopped operations due to the conflict, but this shows the importance of finding ways to ‘stay the course’, with a major food crisis on the horizon.

WorldVeg, in collaboration with CGIAR Centers and national and international NGOs, has been implementing the Sustainable Agrifood Systems Approach for Sudan (SASAS) since mid-2023, focusing on improving vegetable production, consumption and value chains in three states in eastern Sudan – Kassala, Gedaref, and Blue Nile. By the end of 2023, the project reported major achievements from all states, despite all the challenges resulting from the unstable situation and conflict in Sudan.

In Blue Nile State, 25 vegetable business networks were established in 11 villages by NGO partner Jasmar, each having around 40 members and a demonstration plot with drip irrigation installed. Training was provided on raising seedlings, nursery management, good agricultural practices, year-round production, maintenance of the irrigation system, pest and weed management, harvesting, and postharvest handling. WorldVeg prepared information pamphlets, and these were distributed along with vegetable seed kits to thousands of farmers. Assessments in Al-Damazine, Al-Rosairis, Al-Azaza, and Al-Serawo markets gathered information on their potential for smallholder producers, which revealed that those in Al-Damazine and Al-Rosairis have a large demand for vegetables. Farmers and business network members then received training on demand assessment, market requirements, packaging, quality control, and negotiation skills, to equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively engage in marketing. Direct access to urban markets was also facilitated by establishing relationships with wholesalers, retailers, and supermarkets.

In Kassala State, Practical Action with support from the Ministry of Production and Economic Resources, distributed improved seeds of okra, tomato, sweet pepper and jute mallow to 13 producer groups. A demonstration plot with drip irrigation was established at the nursery of the Horticulture Department, eight orientation and training sessions were conducted for 218 farmers, and 30 farmers from the 13 farmer groups were trained in organic fertilizer and compost production. A great achievement by the project is the Elharam group of mostly women farmers who have already started harvesting and selling jute mallow.

Samia Hassan Altahir in her vegetable plot. “Through the project I gained a lot of knowledge, on crop rotation to preserve and improve soil fertility, pest management, and preparing organic fertilizer. Joining the farmer’s group was a great opportunity, also to meet other farmers, learn from each other, and build a network.”

In Gadaref State, 50 vegetable business networks were established by Mercy Corps and Zenab Women for Development, with training given on vegetable production and value chain development, and 500 farmers received seed kits including 50 grams of tomato, 906 grams of the local leafy vegetable jute mallow (mulukhiya), 906 grams of okra, and 906 grams of cucumber. The Zenab Women Development NGO distributed vegetable seeds to 412 smallholders from 15 farmer groups, including sweet and chili pepper, tomato, eggplant, watermelon, jute mallow, okra, radish and purslane. In addition, farmers received hand tools (hoes, shovels, pickaxes and sickles), knapsack sprayers and chemicals such as the synthetic pyrethroid insecticide Cypermethrin. Awareness training was also given to 117 farmers from El-Fashaga and El-Mafaza.

Major challenges exist, however, that limit the full achievement of project objectives. These include the continued insecurity and possible expansion of the conflict in other states, the poor banking system (no cash available in most banks, and international transactions are difficult), the difficulty of communication (phone and internet) with online meetings almost impossible in many localities, price inflation, no fuel in many places, and bureaucracy in government institutions regarding registration and travel restrictions.

The Sustainable Agrifood Systems Approach for Sudan (SASAS) project, funded by USAID through CIMMYT, is implemented by the World Vegetable Center, Practical Action, Mercy Corps, and Zenab Women for Development.

This article can also be found in the World Vegetable Center Annual Report 2023

WorldVeg Annual Report 2023 ! – World Vegetable Center (avrdc.org)