23 November 2020, Rome/Sudan – FAO-China South-South Trust Fund has contributed 1.5 Million USD to a south-south cooperation project (SSC project) aimed at enhancing production, productivity and competitiveness of the crops and livestock sectors in Sudan. Agriculture accounts for nearly one-third of the national Gross Domestic Product and around half of the national workforce is engaged in agricultural activities that mainly includes crop, livestock, fisheries, forestry production, and agro-processing industries.

This project will address the key challenges of food insecurity, malnutrition and rural poverty in hazard-prone areas of Sudan by strengthening the resilience of vulnerable smallholders particularly women through a cohesive programme supporting relevant household livelihood-protection and recovery, equitable and sustainable management of natural resources and agriculture development initiatives. It will target increasing agricultural productivity in crop and livestock sectors, and capacity of animal health in Sudan through enhancing access to technologies and markets.

“Agriculture investment is essential for Sudan’s food and nutrition security,” said Babagana Ahmadu, FAO Representative in Sudan. “I would like to applaud the government of People’ s Republic of China for their ongoing collaboration, cooperation to Sudan’s efforts to overcome the challenges related to agriculture and agro-industry development, which include initiatives to increase access to local food, reduce poverty and malnutrition and boost income generation for rural families, especially for smallholders,” Ahmadu added.

Abdul Gadir Turkawi, Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Sudan said: “This is a manifestation of profound friendship between the two countries”.

Over the recent years, China-Sudan bilateral agricultural cooperation has been advancing steadily with notable progress in high-level visits exchanges, technical exchanges, personnel training, agricultural investment and trade. One of the key highlights of this ongoing collaboration is China’s sponsorship to the Agricultural Technology Demonstration Centre in Sudan.

“This timely assistance provided by China serves as a historic milestone in the long lasting strategic partnership in China – Sudan relations” said Ma Xinmin, Ambassador of China to Sudan.

China has been one of FAO’s main partners in the promotion of South-South and triangular cooperation. Last year marked the 10th anniversary of the FAO-China South-South Cooperation Programme, which has benefited more than 70,000 people directly in 12 developing countries in Africa and Asia. Sudan is the thirteenth country implementing national project under the FAO-China SSC Programme.