Sudan’s Silent Suffering: Farmers on the Brink Amid War and Blackouts
Standing amidst the fragile remnants of his once-thriving date palms, Hatem Abdelhamid feels the weight of desperation closing in. His silent companions—withered tree trunks and parched soil—tell the tale of a nation under siege. In the humble village of Tanqasi, nestled beside the Nile’s storied waters, Hatem faces the unsparing consequences of a war that’s turned Sudan’s vibrant fields into somber landscapes.
“I’ve lost between 70% to 75% of my crops this year,” Hatem lamented, gazing over his dwindling harvest. “I’m doing everything possible to save what remains.”
The Darkness of War: A Layered Crisis
The ravages of conflict, coupled with an economic collapse, have left Sudan’s agricultural sector hanging by a thread. Power outages have handcuffed irrigation systems, threatening to turn the nation’s fertile breadbasket into barren wastelands. Since violence erupted in April 2023 between Sudan’s military forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, state-run power plants have been battered relentlessly. The result? Farmers like Hatem are left powerless, literally and figuratively, as reliable water access falls apart.
For most Sudanese farms, electricity is vital. Without it, irrigation grinds to a halt. “It’s been over two months without power,” Hatem explained. “Our systems are down, and with them, our hopes.”
From Droughts to Power Struggles
Memories of the 1985 drought and famine are still fresh for many Sudanese—a historic crisis that left indelible scars. But history seems to echo in haunting ways. The current conflict is swiftly redefining agricultural realities, pushing food insecurity to unprecedented levels. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization reports that farming remains the backbone for 80% of Sudan’s population. Yet, with the conflict stretching into its third year, over half the nation is plunged into severe food insecurity. In some areas, famine has already tightened its grip, while millions teeter on the edge.
Beyond food, the war has ravaged infrastructure, claimed tens of thousands of lives, and displaced around 13 million. A 2024 study by the U.N. Development Programme and the International Food Policy Research Institute revealed a staggering truth: nearly one-third of rural households have lost their access to irrigation and water.
The Cost of Survival
Without electricity, reliance shifts to diesel pumps, but fuel scarcity and skyrocketing prices leave farmers trapped. “I used to spend 10,000 Sudanese pounds per irrigation,” shared Abdelhalim Ahmed, a neighboring farmer. “Now it’s 150,000 pounds because power is unavailable.” Losing three successive harvests, Abdelhalim mourns the loss of oranges, onions, tomatoes, and dates.
Seeds, fertilizers, and fuel have also becomes rare commodities, painting a bleak picture for future planting cycles. The Food and Agriculture Organization raised alarms in April, noting “below-average rainfall” and persistent instability as critical threats to timely intervention. A June study by the IFPRI predicted a potential 42% plunge in Sudan’s economic output if the conflict persists, with agriculture taking an acute hit.
“Our data point to enormous income losses and a soaring poverty rate, especially in rural areas and among women,” said Khalid Siddig, a senior research fellow at IFPRI. This cuts deeply into the social fabric, unraveling livelihoods and security.
A Call to Action
The situation in Sudan isn’t simply a local crisis; it’s a lens through which we view the resilience and fragility of communities worldwide. As humanity grapples with conflicts, what responsibility do we bear towards those who feed the world yet remain hungry themselves?
The echo of Sudan’s struggle resonates along the corridors of global conscience. Are we listening? Or have these tales of despair become invisible in our shared narrative? Looking beyond the immediate headlines, we must ask ourselves: what legacy will these stories inscribe upon future generations?
While Sudan’s hope might seem like an ember flickering in the shadows, let’s remember—change begins with awareness. By shedding light on these issues, we empower voices like Hatem’s and Abdelhalim’s, fortifying their frontlines not only with compassion but with concrete support.
As we reflect on their courage, let us not forget our capacity to ignite change, turning isolated stories of survival into collective triumphs of the human spirit.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
