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| Food Security The Situation  The majority of Sudanese live in rural areas and rely on subsistence farming to meet their household’s nutritional needs. Although the Human Development Report does not provide statistics for agricultural employment in Sudan, it’s reasonable to assume that approximately 75% of the population relies on farming as their main source of income. Despite, or perhaps because of, this reliance, food insecurity plagues Sudan. Droughts, poor soil quality due to erosion, and ineffective farming methods all contribute to the instability. Conflict, which displaces people from their land, further exacerbates the problem.The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that 90% of people living in Sudan lack the nutrients and calories required for good health; this shortage results in chronic malnutrition, particularly among children. Much of Sudan’s agricultural land has been affected by soil erosion, siltation, and deforestation. In some areas droughts are frequent, while others struggle with nitrogen deficiency and fertilizer is required to regenerate the soil. Fertilizer, however, is often too expensive for struggling families. Together these environmental and economic issues threaten the quantity and quality of the harvest. Guinea worm, malaria, diarrhea, and HIV/AIDS also render many adults incapable of tending to their fields or working outside the home, making it difficult to obtain enough food for their households. Ongoing civil strife in Sudan leads to even more problems; cattle are looted, fields are burned and destroyed, and families flee their communities to live as refugees or internally displaced people without access to land. When communities are not able to farm the loss of food production creates dependency on food aid. Poor animal health is also a major issue in Sudan. Cows, which are used for food and agriculture, are often a household’s most costly possession. Disease and cattle raiding, therefore, have an enormous impact. Rural areas do not have sufficient animal health facilities to provide services to farmers or train them in effective rearing. Access to sufficient nutritious food is an ongoing concern in Sudan. Food insecurity leads to malnutrition, particularly among children under 5. Stunting and wasting in young children is prevalent. Deficiencies of iron, iodine and Vitamin A, which are also common, lead to anemia, goiter and night blindness respectively. You can join FAR in training farmers, creating access to water, providing animal health services, and supplying seeds and tools. Visit the Get Involved page to learn how you can support FAR. FAR’s Approach FAR assists farmers in rural Sudan through training, organizing co-ops, and supplying seeds and tools. These efforts increase the availability of nutritious foods and improve animal health. In the Nuba Mountains, FAR works with communities to capture rain water for human consumption and watering livestock. FAR is also involved in training farmers in terracing, irrigation, and improved farming methods to reduce risks associated with drought. In Darfur, FAR assists famers by vaccinating donkeys and distributing seeds and tools. In Kosti, FAR belongs to a cooperative that supports access to agricultural land for displaced people, enabling them to produce food for consumption and trade. See our Project in Focus page to read about a local community that has created food security while simultaneously generating income. The sustainability of this project, which is sourced in local resources and innovation, will continue to improve health and livelihoods in the future. |
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