The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) continues to deliver all forms of agricultural support to the Sudanese Ministry of Agriculture & Natural Resources. In this context, FAO Representative to Sudan Dr Babagana Ahmadu met on March 12, 2020 the Federal Minister of Agriculture & Natural Resources H.E Mr Eissa Osman Sharief, in the presence of the Sudanese Mandy National Charity Organization, at the premises of the ministry in Khartoum. The joint meeting discussed various aspects of expanding FAO supportive activities to cover more beneficiaries in South Kordofan State.

 Dr Ahmadu started the meeting by briefing the minister around the recent situation in South Kordofan. He said that South Kordofan State has many agricultural potentials to benefit from. Dr Ahmadu added that FAO is recently working on the income generating activities such as distributing milking goats and donkey carts for women headed households. Moreover, FAO implemented several programs targeting  women empowerment and strengthening the veterinary services across  South Kordofan State. Dr Ahmadu further reiterated the plan by FAO to expand its footprint in South Kordofan being one of the States endowed with natural resources and excellent climatic conditions posing huge opportunities to boost agricultural productivity including livestock.

 On the other side, H.E Mr Sharief welcomed and commended the excellent working relations and cooperation between his Ministry and  FAO, adding that it is good to tackle various objectives, especially issues of women and water scarcity. He stressed the importance of reaching every community in Sudan and implement more projects on food security by capacity development through training of various stakeholders especially youths and women. The Minister emphasized the need for the establishment of more Agricultural  training centers across the country with view to train more women, farmers and youths.  Mr Sharief requested  FAO to play a role in settling the conflicts between the farmers and pastoralists by educating both groups on peaceful co-existence between pastoralists and other farming communities. He also raised the issue of desert locust and the necessary precautions to be taken to prevent the country having swarms invasion.  

 In the framework of opening new channels of partnerships, Dr Ahmadu said that it is a valuable opportunity for FAO to present its services in collaboration with Sudanese national organizations under the coordination of  the ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Such cooperation will give the national organizations the opportunity to get acquire skills through  training by  international expertise.

 Under the coordination of the of the ministry, FAO reiterated its full commitment to continue to support and cooperate with Mandy National Charity Organization. The key areas identified for collaboration include but not limited to women empowerment, training, capacity building and establishment of  new skills acquisition and training centers. FAO will continue to facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance and development to the vulnerable groups, the poorest and most needy societies  enabling them to depend on themselves.

Mandy National Charity Organization is a voluntary, non-governmental organization founded and registered in the Humanitarian Aid Commission since 1988, following the disasters and floods that swept the country at that time. The organization targets communities emerging from emergency and disaster situations as well as the neediest communities in the countryside. The organization pays special attention to women, children and youth.

 FAO continues its unlimited efforts in Sudan achieving its mandate to implement programs and projects in the fields of food security, agriculture, forestry and fisheries. Moreover, to co-partner with national organizations that serve the five strategic objectives of FAO, which are; a) help eliminate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition, b) make agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and sustainable, c) reduce rural poverty, d) enable inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems, e) increase the resilience of livelihoods to threats and crises.