The overall aim of the Sudan Food Security Programme (SFSP) was to contribute to improved food security in the Republic of Sudan. The SFSP had two complementary components:
Capacity Building Component – strengthening the capacity of the relevant State civil servants to formulate sector policies, strategies and budgets with respect to food security. Rural Smallholder Component – strengthening the capacity of small-scale producers to become active players in improving the food security situation.
Landell Mills' contract supported the second component of the Programme which aimed to improve the productivity and income of rural smallholders, and as a result their livelihoods, both through practical demonstration, in terms of subsidised inputs and implementation, and through the use of various training and extension methodologies.
The SFSP Rural Smallholder Component was implemented in four target states in Sudan. In Gedaref, Kassala and Blue Nile States, the focus was on improving sorghum productivity by smallholder farmers during the rain-fed agricultural season. In Red Sea State, the focus was on enhancing productivity from smallholder horticulture and near-shore artisanal fishing. The project adopted a market development approach and additional support measures included the establishment and capacity development of producers associations, and linking up smallholder farmers and fishermen with financial service providers.
The Programme worked closely with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA),
and the Ministry of International Cooperation (European Development Fund
Unit). There was a Programme Advisory Committee at the national level,
headed by the Undersecretary of the MoA, whilst at the state level each
project was coordinated by Technical Support Committees headed by the
Directors Generals of the State MoA and members of the State MoA’s
Extension and Agricultural Research Departments, as well as the State’s
Ministry of Finance and Humanitarian Aid Commissions (HAC).
The
project activities were being implemented through partnerships between
international and national NGOs in the four target States. In addition ,
the MoAs in the four States held important roles in delivering
extension services at the State level. The role of the Technical
Assistance was to monitor and oversee the delivery of the programme and
provide technical advice as required, primarily to the NGO implementing
partners but also to the State extension staff and other partners.
Activities
relating to rain-fed sorghum production in Kassala, Gedaref and Blue
Nile States focused on introduction of an all-inclusive technical
package following principles of rain water harvesting and conservation
agriculture. The technical package included herbicides, fertilizers and
improved seeds, as well as their application using tractor-borne
pneumatic planters and sprayers. The introduction of these new
approaches were facilitated by the production of bespoke extension manuals for each State and their use in various extension activities
e.g. Farmer Field Schools.
Activities in Red Sea State similarly focused on introducing improved techniques and technologies
including, to fishermen, GPS Fish Finder, cool boxes, better on-board
handling techniques etc., and to horticulture farmers, improved
vegetable seeds and irrigation units. Again, this was complimented
by training and capacity enhancement provided by the Government
extension departments using purpose-designed extension manuals (all of
which has been facilitated by the programme).
The SFSP-RSC achieved the three following results:
Result 1: Improved practices and techniques for rain-fed farming (and horticulture and fisheries in Red Sea State) applied.
The new approaches have shown demonstrable yield increases; in terms of
the standard unit of 90kg sacks of sorghum, average production among
project farmers has increased from a baseline average of 1-3 sacks per
feddan (1.038 acres), to 7-9 sacks, with some farmers producing over 15
sacks (depending on location). Horticulture production under the project
in Red Sea has seen similar dramatic increases from baseline values;
cucumbers by 55%, tomatoes by 33%, and eggplant by 47%. In the fisheries
sector, production gains of over 60% have been recorded (varying for
the different categories of boat and the different fishing seasons). In
all States it is hoped that such dramatic yield increases will result in maintained production surpluses and lift rural smallholders out of a
subsistence-based way of life
Result 2: Appropriate inputs and technologies for income–generating activities available and used.
There
is strong evidence of existing growing markets in all inputs and technologies
introduced under the programme in all sectors (sorghum, fisheries &
horticulture) – at different commercial scales. In sorghum-related inputs and
technologies, large agribusiness service providers are engaged under the
programme in stimulating the market for elements of the technical package
e.g. improved seeds and agro-chemicals (fertiliser, herbicides and pesticides)
and technologies for income–generating activities available and used
Result 3: Increased access and use of services (financial services, traders etc.).
The programme supported smallholder producers in commercialising their production. Based on careful analysis of the respective value chains, the programme
supported farmers and fishermen in establishing producers associations
and then building their capacity, linking them with the private sector,
credit providers and marketing opportunities. At the
end of the programme, farmers were accessing loans of 50-100% from MFIs (mainly
ABS and the state based MFIs). In 2018, farmers were able to access credit from
the Ebdaa Bank which is one of the commercial banks in Blue Nile. In Red Sea
State, the informal credit sector is much stronger and as a result there is limited
(only individual cases) evidence of genuine interest and potential for uptake
in this area. 233 Producers Associations (PAs) were established and
registered under the Programme. Capacity building of the PAs is ongoing and
scaling up.