Food Security in Sudan

The agricultural sector is the core of Sudanese life and a main driving force behind the country’s economy. The major cereal crops produced in the Republic of Sudan include sorghum, millet and wheat. Smallholder cultivation is important in its own right, supporting about 35% of the population and contributing to the national food supply. However, one sector which has so far been particularly neglected, by policy makers and implementers alike, is smallholder rain-fed agriculture. Most of the efforts and resources have rather been allocated to other sectors, particularly involving large-scale agriculture such as irrigation schemes and mechanised farms. Nevertheless, recent indications exist that the government is increasingly aware of this problem and is starting to recognise the importance of the traditional rain-fed sector. The overall objective of the SPSP project, of which this contract will be a part, is to contribute to improved food security in the Republic of Sudan. The purpose of the Smallholder component to which this contract will contribute is to increase productivity and income for rural smallholders. The project will have three main results, which are defined as follows: 1) Improved practices and techniques for rain-fed farming applied; 2) Appropriate inputs and technologies for income-generating activities (IGAs) available and used; 3) Increased access and use of services (financial services, traders, etc.).