Gezira, Rahad and Suki schemes show fragile agricultural recovery
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · May 4
Gezira, Rahad and Suki schemes show fragile agricultural recovery
6 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · May 4
Satellite analysis found crop health improved by December 2025 after the Sudanese army retook Wad Madani, Singa and most of Gezira and Sennar from the RSF.
The recovery follows a 2024 collapse under RSF control, when Gezira's wheat production fell 58% and irrigation, seed stocks and food warehouses were looted or damaged.
Sudan's war has left 25.6 million people acutely food insecure, though 3.4 million later improved; Khartoum farms and industrial zones showed little recovery, with thousands of facilities still ruined.
With its breadbasket destroyed and foreign powers fueling the war, can Sudan escape a future of permanent, man-made starvation?
Digital evidence proves Sudan's famine is a weapon. Why do foreign powers continue to arm those responsible for these war crimes?
Sudan’s Agricultural Crisis in 2025-2026: $87 Million AfDB Boost Amidst Catastrophic Food Insecurity Affecting 28.7 Million
Overview
Sudan's agricultural sector, devastated by ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces since 2023, faced widespread destruction of irrigation systems, infrastructure, and industrial facilities, pushing the country close to famine. Despite a partial recovery in late 2025 after key farming regions were recaptured, challenges like damaged canals and economic collapse persisted. In response, the African Development Bank launched the $100 million BOOST project in 2026 to restore agriculture and support over 1.2 million people, focusing on resilience and empowering women and youth. However, recovery remains fragile, hindered by insecurity, inflation, land tenure issues, and climate shocks, with millions still facing acute food insecurity and long-term rebuilding needed.