Full Breakdown
Sudan’s Agricultural Crisis Deepens as War Drives Up Fertilizer and Fuel Costs
5/9/2026, 6:40:48 AM
Background & Context
- Civil war since April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has disrupted internal logistics and market stability.
- The Iran-Israel war disrupts fertilizer shipments via the Gulf, raising prices and straining Sudan’s import routes.
- Sudan imports >50 % of its fertilizer through Gulf ports; fuel prices have risen ?30 %, compounding farmers’ cost pressures.
- The combined effect of these conflicts has choked supply chains, forcing many farmers to delay planting.
Data & Statistics
- A 50-kg bag of urea fertilizer now costs $50, up from $11 last year – a more than 350 % increase.
- Tractor fuel has risen to $8 per gallon from $2.50.
- Prices for vegetables and dairy have climbed ?40 %.
- The UN World Food Programme estimates 19 million people face acute hunger; 150,000 deaths and 14 million displaced have been reported.
- These price spikes translate into higher food costs for consumers across Sudan.
On-the-Ground Reports
- Omer al-Hassan, a farmer, says “The Iran war has affected everything related to agriculture.”
- Abdoun Berqawi warns of “dangerous reality” without government help.
- Merghany Omar notes onion farming no longer covers planting costs.
- Mubarak al-Nour cautions that delays could cause farmers to miss the June-Nov planting season.
- Farmers report skipping meals while clearing fields, underscoring the severity of the crisis.
Official Statements & Responses
- Mercy Corps Africa vice-president Melaku Yirga says the war has triggered a dangerous chain reaction for farmers.
- WFP shipping chief Henrik Hansen reports Sudan-bound aid traveling 9,000 km farther, inflating costs.
- Action Against Hunger’s Samy Guessabi highlights that remote zones are hit hardest.
- Sudan’s agriculture ministry declined to comment, leaving policy gaps unfilled.
Criticism & Opposition
- Farmers and NGOs criticize the government for failing to subsidize fertilizer or fuel.
- Calls for urgent subsidies and credit relief aim to prevent widespread crop abandonment.
- International observers warn that without intervention, staple crops such as sorghum, millet and sesame risk collapse.
- International donors have been urged to fund emergency subsidies and credit facilities for smallholders.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- While the UN WFP cites 19 million in acute hunger, other estimates focus on 14 million displaced, indicating a lack of unified data on food insecurity.
- No official response from Sudan’s agriculture ministry leaves a gap in policy accountability.
What’s Next
- If input costs remain high, many farmers may halve or forgo planting, threatening national food security.
- Humanitarian agencies urge increased funding to cover longer shipping routes and subsidize inputs.
- Experts warn that missed planting windows could trigger a new wave of famine across Sudan’s breadbasket regions.
- The UN warns that famine could spread beyond Darfur and Kordofan if planting is missed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “affected everything related to agriculture,” — Omer al-Hassan, farmer, Omdurman
- “The rising costs have created “a dangerous reality” for farmers who will struggle without government intervention, said Abdoun Berqawi, a farmer in Gezira, one of the country’s main food-producing regions.” — Abdoun Berqawi, farmer, Gezira
- “dangerous chain reaction ... at the wrong moment” — Melaku Yirga, Mercy Corps vice president for Africa
- “WFP has said its Sudan-bound food assistance shipments are traveling 9,000 kilometers (5,500 miles) farther to reach their destination, adding costs and time.” — Henrik Hansen, WFP shipping chief
