FAO Appeals for Support to Food Production Needs in Sudan
moatinoon
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has issued an urgent appeal to raise 75.4 million to respond to continuously growing needs and enhance food production by the end of the year.
The international organization announced that it successfully distributed nearly 10,000 tons of seeds to one million farming households - or 5 million people - in a timely manner for the critical planting season from June to September 2023, thanks to the support of its resource partners and collaboration with dedicated local implementing partners.
Hong Ji Yang, FAO Representative in Sudan, stated, "FAOs support to Sudanese rural communities has been significant, but the needs continue to increase. Agricultural support must persist, and there is an urgent need for funding to align resources with the needs." He emphasized, "This is an urgent reminder to continue taking action now and show the people of Sudan that they have not been and will not be forgotten."
FAO clarified that this vital support for farmers seeds enabled them to produce enough food to meet grain needs for an estimated 13 to 19 million people. It noted that the total cultivated area for all crops is 15% below the annual average during the summer season, attributing this to the war, which resulted in inflation in challenges such as the rise in prices of agricultural inputs (seeds and tools), severe shortages in inputs, financing, and advisory services.
Adding complexity to this picture is the expected increase in the spread of animal diseases due to the shortage of veterinary services and vaccines, which could lead to significant losses in livestock, a decrease in meat and milk consumption, and an increase in child malnutrition rates. In a proactive move to save livestock, the organization supported animal health, including vaccination and treatment, for 1.3 million vulnerable families.
FAO announced that agricultural and pastoral families will also receive essential dairy goats for children under the age of five, in addition to concentrated animal feed and mineral licks to maintain the health of their livestock. Furthermore, to address estimated production losses and the worsening of food security and livelihoods, FAO plans to reach 0.7 million families with a variety of vegetable seeds for the winter season.
The organization stated that it aims to support 2 million agricultural and pastoral families between November and December 2023.
