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Agriculture

Devastating Impact of Sudan's War on Pastoralism and Agriculture

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The war in Sudan, which broke out in 2023, has led to a severe humanitarian crisis, affecting all aspects of life in the country. Pastoralism and agriculture, two critical sectors that drive the Sudanese economy, have been severely impacted by the conflict. The situation has become even more dire for pastoralists, who have traditionally crossed borders to move their herds, but now face increased difficulties. Women, in particular, have suffered from the decline of pastoralism, which has led to food insecurity, domestic violence, and forced marriages.

Key Takeaways:

  • The war in Sudan has led to a significant decline in pastoralism, with many pastoralists forced to flee to neighboring countries such as the Central African Republic.
  • The Transboundary Pastoralism Agreements signed with the African Union in 2022 aim to regulate pastoralism across the continent, but have not been sufficient to mitigate the impact of the conflict.
  • The Rapid Support Force's (RSF) occupation of agricultural areas has resulted in the destruction of crops and fields, leading to a decline in agricultural production.
  • Farmers in the agricultural center of Managil in El Gezira State have reported a sharp decline in deliveries of seeds and fertilizers, which they received as payment for their harvests.
  • The cost of plowing has tripled, and the price of fertilizer has increased sixfold, making it even more challenging for farmers to cultivate their land.
  • The RSF has imposed a 60,000 Egyptian pound harvest tax and a 1.75 million pound fine on farmers who failed to pay, further exacerbating the economic burden on farmers.
  • Women have been disproportionately affected by the decline of pastoralism, leading to food insecurity, domestic violence, and forced marriages.

Statistics:

  • At least 50% of pastoralists have been forced to flee conflict-affected areas (Source: Local newspaper Dabanga).
  • Deliveries of seeds and fertilizers have stopped since the RSF captured the state capital, Wad Madani, at the end of 2023 (Source: Online newspaper Dabanga).
  • The cost of plowing has tripled, and the price of fertilizer has increased sixfold since the start of the conflict (Source: Hussein Saad, representative of the Gezira and Managil Farmers' Association).
  • The RSF has imposed a 60,000 Egyptian pound harvest tax and a 1.75 million pound fine on farmers who failed to pay (Source: Hussein Saad, representative of the Gezira and Managil Farmers' Association).
  • At least 70% of women have been affected by the decline of pastoralism, leading to food insecurity, domestic violence, and forced marriages (Source: Local newspaper Dabanga).

Sources:

  • Local newspaper Dabanga
  • Online newspaper Dabanga
  • Fides News Agency (2025)
  • AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com)
  • Hussein Saad, representative of the Gezira and Managil Farmers' Association
  • African Union (2022)

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