Al-gadarif: Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation Prof. Ismat Gurashi Abdullah praised Al-Gadarif as one of Sudan’s leading agricultural states and a model of productivity. He commended the role of women producers and urged farmers to organize themselves into agricultural cooperative societies to facilitate access to financing.
According to Sudan News Agency, the minister further announced plans to localize seed production, introduce value-added chains in agriculture, and increase yields per feddan. He also asserted expanding soybean cultivation as a promising crop, calling for greater protection of forests against encroachment.
Meanwhile, the Wali (governor) of Al-Gadarif State Lt. Gen. Mohamed Ahmed Hassan reaffirmed his government’s commitment to developing both the crop and animal resources sectors to enhance food security in the state. Speaking during a joint cabinet meeting with Federal Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation Prof. Ismat Gurashi Abdullah, the wali said that the state is targeting the cultivation of 7.5 million feddans this season.
He noted the key challenges facing the sector, including low yields per feddan, marketing difficulties, and the spread of the sesame midge pest, urging research centers to intervene urgently. He also called for the establishment of more dams on Al-Rahad River to support irrigation and protect surrounding areas from flooding.
The Director General of the Ministry of Production and Economic Resources, Dr. Ammar Abdullah Suleiman, presented the indicative plan for the agricultural season, which covers 7.5 million feddans. He confirmed that more than 7.12 million feddans have already been cultivated with various crops, with financing exceeding 122 billion pounds. He also pointed to early pest-control operations across several areas, alongside extension services and demonstration fields to train farmers in applying new technologies and practices.
The Director of the General Administration for Technology Transference, Dr. Mubarak Osman, announced that preparations have been completed to start aerial spraying operations, with five planes and all required pesticides and equipment in place, noting that his administration is closely monitoring the movement of bird pests, urging the completion of airport facilities. He further highlighted efforts to combat night locusts and grasshoppers, stressing the importance of coordinated pest-control measures.