Full Breakdown
Iran Conflict Fuels Agricultural Crisis in War-Torn Sudan
5/25/2026, 10:44:02 PM
Escalating Input Costs Threaten Planting Season
Sudan’s farmers report that the surge in global fuel and fertilizer prices linked to the Iran conflict is forcing a drastic cut-back in planting this summer. National surveys show fertilizer prices are up 67 % year-on-year, while diesel and other fuel costs have more than doubled. The price spike has left many growers unable to cover operating expenses, prompting a sharp decline in cultivated area. Only 500 of the 10,000 feddans (?4,200 ha) slated for the season have been planted, according to Omar al-Ebeid, secretary of the scheme’s farmers’ committee.
Background: Sudan’s War-Weakened Agriculture Meets Global Shock
Decades of internal conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have already crippled the country’s agricultural sector. The war has made Sudan wholly dependent on imported fuel and on Gulf nations for more than half of its fertilizer needs, according to United Nations data. The ongoing battle for the Kordofan region—an agricultural heartland—has further disrupted irrigation infrastructure and displaced farming communities.
Data Snapshot: Prices, Production and Hunger
- Fertilizer price increase: +67 % YoY.
- Fuel (diesel) price increase: > 100 % YoY.
- Cultivation progress: 5 % of targeted area planted.
- National cereal production: already down 25 % from pre-war averages (FAO).
- Population facing crisis-level hunger: 19.5 million (?40 % of Sudan’s total).
- UN FAO analyst Sadig Elamin warns overall agricultural output could fall by “not less than 40 %.”
These figures illustrate how rising input costs intersect with an already fragile food system, threatening both staple crops such as sorghum, millet, wheat and export commodities like sesame.
Official Government and International Responses
Sudan’s Agriculture Ministry, represented by director Fatma Yousif, announced a partnership with the state-backed Agricultural Bank to create a new fund aimed at financing inputs on more favorable terms. The bank’s head pledged to “alleviate the burden on Sudanese farmers by providing inputs on better terms over longer periods.” The UN’s humanitarian office echoed concerns, stating that a sustained shock could worsen hunger “well beyond the current food crisis.” No official comment was received from the RSF despite requests for comment.
Farmer Criticism and On-the-Ground Realities
Farmers contend that the army-aligned government has failed to offset the price surge, citing reduced budgets diverted to the war effort. Mohamed Balla, head of a collective in the Gezira scheme, highlighted that “two sacks of wheat buy you one sack of urea,” making wheat cultivation financially untenable. Displaced farmer Mohamed Adam described a complete lack of funding, machinery, and security, noting that RSF and other armed groups loot crops and demand payments at checkpoints. In Kordofan and Darfur, looting of tractors and recruitment of farmhands into armed groups have further limited planting capacity.
Conflicting Reports & Information Gaps
The RSF declined to comment on allegations of crop looting and checkpoint extortion, leaving a gap in verification of security-related impacts. Additionally, while UN and FAO officials project a potential 40 % production decline, precise field-level data on actual yield losses remain unavailable.
Verbatim Quotes
- “At that price we don’t make a profit, you spend your whole profit on the diesel,” — Bashir Ismail, farmer
- “There is no funding for farmers, no machinery for planting and ploughing the land, and no security because the RSF and other gangs loot the crops and demand money at every checkpoint,” — Mohamed Adam, displaced farmer
- “Two sacks of wheat buy you one sack of urea. So we won’t grow it again,” — Mohamed Balla, head of farmers’ collective
- “The bank's head told Reuters it would work to "alleviate the burden" on Sudanese farmers by providing inputs on better terms over longer periods.” — Head of Agricultural Bank
Outlook: Prospects for the 2026 Harvest
The Ministry’s financing fund and the bank’s revised credit terms represent the primary policy levers aimed at stabilizing input access. However, continued volatility in global fuel and fertilizer markets, coupled with persistent insecurity in key agricultural zones, leaves the 2026 harvest outlook uncertain. International aid reductions and limited domestic fiscal capacity further constrain Sudan’s ability to mitigate the compounded effects of war and the Iran-related price shock.
