Sudan at a glance

Agriculture is the cornerstone of Sudan's economy, providing food and income to nearly 65 percent of the population. Prior to the current crisis, the sector contributed over 24 percent of GDP, underscoring its vital role in national development. Despite this central role, Sudan's agricultural potential remains largely untapped. Of the approximately 175 million feddans (73.5 million hectares) suitable for agriculture, less than 35 percent is currently utilized.

The country's diverse agro-ecological zones support three main production[EA1] [SE2]  systems:  irrigated agriculture, exemplified by Al Jazirah Scheme, one of the world’s largest irrigation projects covering approximately 1 million hectares); semi-mechanized rainfed agriculture across a 6.7-million-hectare belt known as Sudan’s granary; and traditional rainfed agriculture spanning 9 million hectares and engaging the majority of farmers. The crop portfolio is highly diversified, including cereals (sorghum, millet, wheat), oilseeds (sesame, groundnuts, sunflowers), commercial crops (cotton, sugarcane), pulses and horticultural crops.

Sudan is home to one of Africa's largest livestock populations, estimated at about 115.4 million head, inlcluding approximately 42.9 million sheep, 33.8 million goats, 33.5 million cattle and 5.1 million camels, with the Darfur region accounting for the highest proportion of the national herd (31.8 percent), followed by the Kordofan region (27.7 percent).

However, the outbreak of conflict in April 2023 has disrupted the country and exacerbated existing economic, social and environmental challenges. The humanitarian toll is staggering: As of December 2025, an estimated 9.1 million people are displaced internally, while an additional 4.4 million have fled to neighbouring countries, making Sudan’s displacement crisis the largest in the world. Economically, the impact has been equally severe, with World Bank estimates indicating a sharp increase in extreme poverty since 2022, driven by economic contraction, rising prices and disruptions to livelihoods.

According to the Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP), 33.7 million people will require humanitarian assistance in 2026, including 28.9 million in need of food security and livelihood support, reflecting life-threatening conditions driven by the ongoing conflict, market disruptions, restricted mobility and limited humanitarian access.

While the immediate priority remains the delivery of emergency, life-saving humanitarian assistance, the United Nations in Sudan has developed an Interim Cooperation Framework (ICF) for 2026-2028 with the Government of Sudan to shift towards early recovery and resilience building. In alignment with the ICF, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is addressing both humanitarian challenges and longer-term development by: ensuring timely availability of certified seeds and agricultural inputs; supporting rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure and water systems; improving access to veterinary services and vaccination; promoting value chain development for priority commodities; introducing climate-smart agricultural practices and technologies; strengthening rangeland management and livestock mobility; reducing post-harvest losses through improved storage and handling; and strengthening institutional capacity including for data collection and early warning systems.