Published on: 2026-08-04
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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August 4, 2026 Peace and Security
Sudan’s agriculture, devastated by three years of war, potentially remains one of the few sectors that can contribute to reducing poverty and hunger – provided the necessary support is available. This conclusion was reached by the authors of a new comprehensive study prepared by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Trade Centre.
The document relies on data coming from various states across the country and more than 80 consultations with representatives from the government, private sector, financial institutions, and humanitarian organizations. It describes a detailed picture of the destruction in Sudan’s agricultural and market systems following the start of the conflict in April 2023.
Almost 90 percent of farmers and production cooperatives reported a decline in crop yields compared to last year – from 22 percent in relatively stable areas to 71 percent in active combat zones.
More than half of the farmers do not have the ability to harvest under safe conditions. Transaction costs have risen to 40 percent, leading to a reduction in formal cross-border trade by approximately 45 percent. Logistics chains have fragmented into isolated market segments. Food prices are twice as high as pre-conflict levels, while farm purchase prices remain low.
More than 70 percent of farmers and small businesses lack access to financing, and over 80 percent face a shortage of market information.
“Huge efforts are needed to restore agriculture and productivity in Sudan,” noted the head of UNDP in the country, Luca Renda. “But we must not despair. If investments come in, markets will be able to operate, and people will be able to access products at affordable prices.”
The report contains recommendations for the development of key supply chains related to seven products: sesame, sorghum, soy, peanuts, hibiscus, gum arabic, as well as livestock products. These items have significant economic and export potential.
Among the proposed measures are the stabilization and modernization of priority chains, strengthening farmer organizations and aggregation systems, increasing export readiness and adherence to standards, eliminating trade and regulatory barriers, as well as enhancing coordination between humanitarian, private, and government structures.
The report emphasizes that the growing role of women, youth, and migrants in informal markets requires targeted interventions aimed at removing barriers to access to finance, land, resources, and markets.
“Sudanese farmers and traders have managed to maintain their markets even during the toughest moments of the war,” Renda noted. “Our recommendations are aimed at ensuring that the resilience of these people is backed by the investments, financing, and trade opportunities they deserve. If support can be mobilized, producers and businesses can become the driving force of the recovery that Sudan desperately needs.”
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