Restoring food and nutrition security of affected farming and pastoral communities in Sudan through the provision of emergency agriculture and livestock.

03/08/2023

May 2022 – November 2022

Location: Sudan

Donor: Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)

Introduction

The Near East and North Africa (NENA) region is confronted with serious challenges that threaten the resilience of its population. These include conflicts, slow and rapid-onset disasters, and the degradation of already scarce natural resources, which are exacerbated by the advent of climate change. In addition to systemic and social vulnerability, natural hazards and human-made disasters are among the main reasons for the continuing rise of food insecurity in the region.
In Sudan, the failing economy, prolonged dry spells, and erratic rainfall in the 2021 rainy season have resulted in shortages and high costs of agricultural inputs and labour, reduced harvests, and a decrease in cultivated areas. Additionally, inflation, diseases, and pest infestations have impacted crop production, while the below-average rainy season has caused a shortage of water for domestic use and livestock, impacting livelihoods and access to drinking water.

According to FAO and WFP, more than 18 million people were likely to face acute food insecurity by September 2022. In addition, according to the 2022 Sudan Humanitarian Needs Overview, 2.8 million children were estimated to require child protection assistance, while an additional 2.5 million people will be exposed to gender-based violence.

Key Facts

Location: 41 localities in 14 states including five Darfur states, three Kordofan states, Blue Nile, Sinnar, White Nile, Gedarif, Kassala, and Red Sea state.

Target Group: 1 723 805 beneficiaries reached (exceeding the planned 900 000 beneficiaries) 

Challenges

The five Darfur states (Central Darfur, East Darfur, North Darfur, South Darfur, and West Darfur) are among the worst states in terms of the food security situation in Sudan. Annually, disputes between herders and farmers occur in Darfur during the summer agricultural season. These disputes occasionally evolve into armed conflicts over the sources of water and grazing lands due to the following:

1. The early release of animals into crop harvest, which leads to crop destruction.
2. Blockage of livestock migratory routes by farmers.
3. Expansion of shifting and semi-mechanized farming into grazing lands
4. Illegal fencing of pasturelands.
5. Blocking access to water sources in the region.

The situation has worsened during the 2021 agriculture season since the dry spell and crop failure have left farmers incapable of buying seeds for the new agriculture season. According to FAO Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) 2022, if the harvest of October 2022, which provides Sudan with its stable corps, fails, the number of food-insecure populations will grow rapidly and there will be an increase in widespread intercommunal violence.

In addition, the situation within the pastoral community was not any better. The shortage of water sources, and grazing lands, and the absence of livestock vaccination will drive the community to immigrate earlier during the farming season and for longer distances. This immigration will harm their livestock and make them more susceptible to transboundary diseases; besides, tensions between their communities and farming communities will worsen as well.

Project objective

In response to the aggravated situation, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with other United Nations organizations – the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP) – have launched the project “Restoring food and nutrition security of affected farming and pastoral communities in Sudan through the provision of emergency agriculture and livestock. The project is funded by Central Emergency Response Fund and focuses on many aspects and activities to restore food security.

The support provided by the project enabled beneficiaries to improve their food security and livelihoods by protecting critical livestock assets and increasing crop and livestock productivity.

The three main activities we will be focusing on are:

1. Procurement and distribution of seeds to support smallholder farmers who are heavily dependent on their crop production accompanied by refresher training on agricultural skills, practices and/or technologies.
2. Provision of veterinary services to support vulnerable pastoralists and agro-pastoralists including animal vaccination against transboundary and infectious diseases and livestock inputs.
3. Establishment and activation of crop protection committees to reduce crop destruction and prevent/mitigate conflict between farmers and herders. 

Methodological approach

FAO’s approach to addressing the crisis emphasizes the need for urgent intervention to overcome the emergency situation. With such circumstances, the potential impact of another failed harvest at the end of the year can be catastrophic and there is a need for an urgent lifesaving response. FAO’s strategy depended on enhancing the capacity of the farming and pastoral communities by providing access to land and water sources, as well as supporting the management of government-led crop protection committees.

To address water scarcity, water trucks for domestic farming consumption and livestock were secured for the months leading up to the rainy season. Special attention has been given to localities without access to water sources. The provision of water through trucking helps prevent the displacement of pastoral communities towards farming lands and therefore reduces the tensions between the two communities.

Vaccination services provided by the project have also benefited both communities – especially the pastoral community. FAO has procured 7 985 000 doses of vaccines, including 6 million doses of “Peste des petits ruminants” and sheep pox diseases, and an additional 1 985 000 doses of “Hidradenitis suppurativa” and Black Quarter diseases. These vaccines have been administered to livestock in multiple locations. A total estimate of 77 761 beneficiaries from pastoralist and agro-pastoralist households (388 805 people) have been reached.

FAO’s project also targeted vulnerable farming communities to avoid failed harvests. This was done by the procurement and distribution of seeds to farmers who rely on crop production. The project has provided seeds for legumes, vegetables and certified crops, in addition to refresher training on improved agronomics practices. A total of 267 000 vulnerable farmer households (1 335 000 people) have benefited from the seed distribution.

Impact 

The project has been a lifeline for many beneficiaries, and with FAO Sudan’s intervention playing a crucial role in preventing food insecurity among vulnerable households. The impact on farming communities has been significant, as many households were unable to afford seeds at market prices. However, thanks to FAO’s seed distribution campaign, they were able to sustain their agricultural activities and diversify their crops. 

The provision of water tankers by FAO has allowed many remote districts without access to water to resume crop cultivation. With water availability and FAO’s efforts to coordinate between farming and pastoral communities, tensions between the two communities have subsided. An agreement has been reached regarding the sharing of water sources and grazing land. 

The impact on the targeted communities went beyond economic aspects. With conflicts over resources halted, community members now feel safer and are more willing to work for their livelihoods. 

One notable impact of the project is the promising number of women and girls participating in the project activities. The project provided agriculture support to 267 000 vulnerable farmer households (1 335 000 people) to produce their own food and improve their income. At least 40 percent of beneficiaries were women-headed households. Women and girls have also shown enthusiasm for participating in training programs provided by FAO to enhance crop productivity. 

In addition, FAO procured 7 985 000 doses of vaccines to reduce livestock losses due to diseases, targeting 75 000 vulnerable agro-pastoralist and pastoralist households. As a result, a total of 4 million animals, including 3 million small ruminants and 1 million cattle, were vaccinated against infectious diseases. FAO also procured and distributed 100 tonnes of mineral licks. These interventions have benefited 77 761 agro/pastoral households, including 23 328 headed by women, totaling 388 805 people. The project has also increased the access to milk and meat, which are crucial for the prevention of malnutrition, for both farming and pastoral communities. 

The project’s impact has been remarkable due to its consideration of the diverse needs of farming and pastoral communities. The targeted beneficiaries included 674 030 vulnerable host community members, 505 500 internally displaced persons, 460 025 returnees, and 84 250 South Sudanese refugees. 

Replicability and upscaling

The project takes into account the diversity of local communities living in the most vulnerable states, and provides support to both agricultural and pastoral communities. Each community has different priorities regarding the means of support they consider vital for their survival.

The farming communities have expressed a strong preference for the intervention, particularly the provision of seeds, especially sorghum. They also express the need for more seeds during the season.

The pastoral communities, on the other hand, face threats to their livestock due to diseases, which negatively impact milk and meat production. Vaccination services are vital for their survival, as their livelihoods heavily depend on their cattle.

The project serves as a model for rapid intervention in addressing the impact of natural hazards such as drought and water scarcity, as well as conflicts between farming and pastoral communities over resources. FAO’s rapid surveys in the region have helped identify the most valuable and urgent needs, keeping the project on the right track and replicable in countries facing similar challenges of drought, water scarcity, armed conflicts, and acute food crises.