FAOR presenting seedling to Sinnar state communities

A high level delegation from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) headed by FAO Representative Babagana Ahmadu and the Canadian Ambassador to Sudan Adrian Norfolk visited the Blue Nile and Sinnar States to launch the new FAO project under the theme ‘’Building resilience and restoring agriculture and livestock based livelihoods for improved food and nutrition security of smallholder women and men farmers and agro-pastoralists affected by floods and COVID-19’’, which is funded by the Canadian government.

Upon the delegation’s arrival to the Blue Nile State, Damazine, a courtesy visit was the State Government General Secretariat, where several issues of concern to the people of the state such as developing livelihoods and supporting those affected by floods were discussed,

Amb Adrian expressed Canada’s readiness to continue providing support to Sudan, such as the support for the Thamarat project, which alleviates the economic burden on citizens and helping low-income families.

The delegation was also at Azaza village in Damazine, to meet the affected floods victims and IDPs that benefitted from previous assistance from FAO in provision agricultural inputs, cash, extension services and capacity development.

The high level delegation then visited Sinnar State, to launch the partnership program to build resilience and gender’s empowerment for food and nutrition security funded by the Government of Canada.

The project was inaugurated in Wad Al-Jak village in Singa city, Sinnar state. The residents of the village organized a warm reception for FAO delegation and the Ambassador of Canada, in the presence and of the Governor of Sinnar State Al Mahi Suleiman, the Minister of Agriculture Asmaa Othman, Forests National Corporation (FNC) officials, state police staff and a group of specialists and media professionals.

In his address to the people at the gathering, the FAOR Babagana Ahmadu expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome and reiterated the commitment of FAO to support the vulnerable and the flood victims until they recover from the devastating impact of the disaster, “Sinnar is particularly chosen for this project in order to address the issue of agro-forestry and pastoralism, rehabilitate the canals that allow water to go to the forest areas, these canals are the key problem, it makes the community vulnerable to floods unless they are properly rehabilitated’’, said Babagana.

The Government of Canada funded FAO project, by $2.3 million, that aims to increase production and productivity in areas affected by the covid-19 and floods, focusing on families supported by women as well as youth and children, through four axes; providing agricultural inputs for autumn and winter, providing veterinary services, financial support to poor families and capacity-building & training.

‘’This state has huge resources, and it is fully qualified to promote agriculture, but it is facing some challenges and difficulties. We are determined to help you overcome those difficulties. We as the Canadian government are working through FAO to achieve prosperity’’, Adrian said.

The project targets 20 000 families across six states, namely; South and East Darfur states, North and South Kordofan states, White Nile and Sinnar states.

Through this support, the targeted beneficiaries will also be able to diversify their food basket and improve their nutrition and income. 

Overall, the project will target 20,000 vulnerable flood affected women, men and youth (100 000 people including 30 600 women, 20 000 girls (18 years old or under), 29 400 men and 20 000 boys (18 years old or under).

‘’I think that Sudan is very rich in its natural resources and also in its incredible resources in its people. I also hope that these children, of Wad Al Jak village, will grow up and find themselves not in need of the support from Canada or anyone else and be self-sufficient’’, said Adrian.

The State Minister of Agriculture, Asmaa Othman, expressed her great gratitude to the government of Canadian for the support through FAO. ‘’We thank the Canadian and FAO support for its contribution to the agricultural development to the affected communities, that play a major role in agriculture, especially women and youth, who we rely heavily on in economic transformation because agriculture is one of Sudan’s most important resources, and Sudan will become a contributing country in the field of food security’’, Asmaa said

In his address, the project coordinator Mr Abdul Hafiz confirmed that Sinnar state will, support; i- preserving forests and rehabilitation of the inlet and the outlet of forest irrigation canal, ii-receive the reconstruction of about 5,000 hectares of improved forest seeds in order to compensate for the impact and damage of pastures in AL-Dali and AL-Mazmoom localities in cooperation with the FNC, iii- pastures and communities.

The Governor of Sinnar state addressed the audience, thanking the villagers of Wad Al-Jak for hosting the event and the good reception, and thanked the Government of Canada and its Ambassador Adrian for his presence despite of the difficulties of the roads and bad weather conditions that faced the delegation to reach Sinnar state.  Al Mahi expressed his government's full readiness to work towards achieving the objectives of the project, as well as his thanks to FAOR Babagana, for FAO’s great interest in the state and its people, describing him as a friend to Sinnar state. ‘’Sinnar state is rich with agricultural and productive land, and 95% of its population work in agriculture and animal production’’, said Al Mahi.

 ‘’We need to preserve and nurture forests to protect the environment for sustainable development’’, Al Mahi concluded.