The Face of Truth | Dr. Ibrahim Shaglawi The Agricultural Season… A National Security Warning

In previous years, preparations for the agricultural season consistently occupied a prominent place among the government’s priorities, given their importance in securing food supplies and strengthening economic and social stability. However, preparations for this season have fallen short of the required level, in light of the repercussions of war, economic pressures, and fuel shortages, all of which have imposed additional challenges on the production process.

The agricultural season and the provision of its requirements are no longer merely matters of production; they have become part of the national security equation and the state’s ability to protect its food security.

These concerns have therefore become more pressing in view of climate and agricultural changes. Recent reports by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have revealed a decline in rainfall levels during the June–September 2026 season, affecting crop germination and establishment in the main production areas.

The crisis, however, is not limited to climate conditions. The war has caused profound disruptions to the productive infrastructure, taken vast areas of agricultural land out of the production cycle, disrupted farmers’ activities, financing and supply chains, in addition to increasing the prices of agricultural inputs and reducing access to markets.

Yet, assessing the situation should not lead to surrendering to the famine scenario, which has begun to be promoted in a coordinated manner across several media platforms. Nor should we deny the risks. Despite the damage sustained by its agricultural sector, Sudan still possesses resources, land, and productive capabilities that enable it to overcome the crisis, provided these potentials are translated into practical policies and urgent interventions.

This is underscored by the recent directives of President Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan regarding the provision and operation of solar energy systems for mechanically irrigated agricultural projects at the state’s expense, in order to address the fuel crisis and power outages and ensure the continuity of irrigation operations during the winter season.

However, the success of these directives remains dependent on effective follow-up, expanding their scope, ensuring their efficiency, and linking them to an integrated plan to secure irrigation, production inputs, and financing.

In the same direction, Gezira State Governor Al-Tahir Ibrahim Al-Khair’s appeal yesterday to banks to expand financing for the winter season in the Gezira and Rahad schemes is significant. The return of banking services to Gezira State should not stop at restoring branches and services; rather, it should translate into the actual restoration of the production cycle by financing farmers and providing their urgent needs.

This is because land that does not receive financing, seeds, fuel, and water at the right time remains outside the production cycle, regardless of its fertility and potential.

The experience of 2024 offers a lesson worth drawing upon. At the time, Lieutenant General Engineer Ibrahim Jaber chaired the Emergency Committee for Saving the Agricultural Season, coordinating the efforts of relevant authorities to sustain production in the available states and areas. FAO data later confirmed that grain production reached approximately 6.7 million tonnes, an increase of more than 60% compared to 2023.

The Wheat Production Support Project, implemented by the World Food Programme with funding from the African Development Bank, also contributed to achieving production of approximately 645,000 tonnes during the 2023–2024 season. These results cannot be attributed to the efforts of a single committee, but they demonstrate that institutional coordination, resource mobilization, and support for farmers can mitigate the effects of war and preserve the country’s productive capacity. This is an experience that should be revisited today as a model of serious joint action in which responsibilities were complementary.

In light of these circumstances, the responsibility of the state and its various institutions becomes increasingly evident. The Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation is required to lead urgent interventions to identify threatened agricultural areas and secure seeds and fertilizers. The Gezira Scheme administration must ensure the sustainability of water supplies and the efficient operation of the scheme, while the Ministry of Finance is responsible for providing the necessary allocations and guarantees for agricultural financing and directing resources towards production as an investment in national stability.

The private sector, banks, energy companies, and agricultural investment firms are also called upon to enter into urgent partnerships to provide financing, production inputs, solar energy systems, storage, transportation, and marketing. The current winter season cannot afford to wait for ideal conditions to materialize; rather, it requires urgent national mobilization, in which the responsibility of safeguarding production takes precedence over immediate profit calculations and short-term gains.

Another aspect that should not be overlooked is that food security has become part of the political and media battle accompanying the war. Humanitarian conditions and declining production are reflected in Sudan’s image abroad, while some of their indicators are being used in the struggle over narratives and in influencing international positions.

From the perspective of #TheFaceOfTruth, the agricultural season under these circumstances has become an early warning signal for national security, revealing the state’s ability to protect its resources and transform them into effective productive power. Land and water alone cannot deliver food security without sound management, sustainable financing, and adequate infrastructure. Food security is not merely about ensuring the people’s daily bread and livelihoods; it is also about safeguarding state sovereignty and protecting national decision-making from regional and international blackmail and pressure.

Wishing you continued health and well-being.

Tuesday, 3 November 2026

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