Khartoum – The Sudanese government has denied the existence of famine in the country, describing the promotion of “false information” on this matter as an “unacceptable attempt to justify UN intervention in Sudan.”
According to the United Nations, approximately 25 million people—two-thirds of Sudan’s population—are facing alarming levels of food insecurity, with famine already spreading in several areas of the country.
During a press conference on Tuesday in Port Sudan, Sudanese Minister of Agriculture Abubakar Omar stated that Sudan’s agricultural productivity is evident and dismissed claims of famine as inaccurate. He argued that promoting such misinformation is an effort to push for UN intervention, which he said would result in “the loss of Sudan’s sovereignty and the outbreak of border and regional unrest,” serving the interests of specific nations.
The minister highlighted the success of the summer agricultural season, crediting favorable climatic conditions and the use of certified seeds. He added, “How can Sudan face famine when it possesses the second-largest arable land area in Africa?” He projected wheat production to reach 490,000 tons this year despite limited cultivation in areas like the Gezira Scheme. He also noted that cereal production during the 2024–2025 agricultural season reached 6.7 million tons, compared to an average of 6.2 million tons over the past five seasons.
With two-thirds of its population relying on agriculture, Sudan has approximately 73.5 million hectares of arable land—about 40% of its total geographic area—of which only 15% is currently utilized for farming, leaving 25% still untapped.
The minister attributed the success of the agricultural season to favorable weather and expanded cultivation in areas like River Nile and Northern State. However, he noted that expansion was constrained by challenges in regions like Gezira, which had been under Rapid Support Forces (RSF) control.
The Gezira Scheme, Africa’s largest irrigated agricultural project and one of the world’s largest managed farms, spans over two million acres. The government announced that its administration is working with the Ministries of Finance and Agriculture in Port Sudan to prepare for harvesting winter crops—particularly wheat—and planning for summer crops for the 2025–2026 season.
In related developments, Finance Minister Jibril Ibrahim met with Gezira Scheme Governor Ibrahim Mustafa on Tuesday to discuss current winter season requirements and preparations for the next agricultural cycle, including irrigation challenges. The finance minister pledged support for the scheme to boost production.
Separately, the agriculture minister emphasized early preparations for the upcoming agricultural season set to begin in June. He called for immediate efforts to prepare summer crop lands, secure fuel supplies, provide improved seeds for crops such as sorghum, cotton, and soybeans, and adopt modern technologies to enhance production.
