Sudan's farming crisis has entered a dangerous new phase. Two years after the country's war forced farmers from their land, a cascading global supply chain breakdown is now threatening to push millions deeper into hunger as fertilizer and fuel prices skyrocket, leaving agricultural workers unable to afford basic inputs for the upcoming planting season.
The disruption stems from Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping chokepoint that has stranded hundreds of commercial vessels and driven up costs for essentials Sudan depends on. The Gulf region supplies over half of Sudan's imported fertilizer, and with shipping routes disrupted, prices have become prohibitive for farmers already weakened by three years of domestic conflict.
The Scale of the Crisis
The numbers paint a stark picture of agricultural collapse. A 50-kilogram bag of urea fertilizer now costs about $50, up from $11 the same period last year—a more than 350% increase. Fuel for tractors has risen from $2.50 to $8 per gallon, roughly a 220% jump. Overall fuel prices have shot up by around 30%, and food prices across Sudan are climbing accordingly.
Farmers interviewed by The Associated Press described impossible choices. Omer al-Hassan, who returned to his farm two years after being forced from the land, said he and the 10 other farmers working his land "cannot handle agricultural costs without government support." They are rationing fertilizer and cutting production on farms that produce onions, potatoes, and tomatoes. Another farmer, Mohammed al-Badri, said he could afford to plant only half his farm because of rising costs: "The rest of it is nothing."
Abdoun Berqawi, a farmer in Gezira—one of the country's main food-producing regions—described the situation as creating "a dangerous reality" for farmers who will struggle without government intervention. Sorghum, millet, and sesame crops are now at risk as the planting season approaches.
Who Bears the Burden
The human cost is immediate and devastating. The U.N. World Food Program estimates that 19 million people across Sudan are facing acute hunger, with many families on the brink of famine. Last year, famine was declared in two major regions, Darfur and Kordofan. Now, as agricultural production falters, that crisis will only deepen.
Melaku Yirga, Mercy Corps vice president for the Africa region, who recently visited Sudan's provinces of Kassala and Gedaref, described a "dangerous chain reaction ... at the wrong moment" as farmers prepare for planting season. "People are buying less food, cutting or skipping meals, selling assets and taking greater risks just to survive," Yirga said. "Mothers are being forced to make painful choices about who gets to eat the little food that is available, while some families are resorting to leaves or animal feed just to get by."
In urban areas, the impact is also severe. Vegetables and dairy have risen by about 40% due to fuel price spikes, placing basic nutrition further out of reach for working families.
Institutional Failures and Compounding Challenges
Farmers face additional institutional pressures that amplify their vulnerability. Merghany Omar, a farmer in al-Matammah in River Nile province, said farmers who took bank loans risk jail if poor crop yields leave them unable to repay. In his region, onion farming—a local staple—no longer covers planting costs.
Samy Guessabi, country director for Action Against Hunger in Sudan, noted that these crises are occurring alongside existing vulnerabilities including currency depreciation. Remote agricultural zones in Kordofan, White Nile, Darfur, and Blue Nile are being hit hardest, where "agricultural zones are remote and poorly connected."
Mubarak al-Nour, a farmer and former parliamentarian in Gedaref, warned that even if farmers secure fertilizer, delays in delivery could cause them to miss the planting season that runs from June to November entirely.
The Supply Chain Collapse
The humanitarian response has been badly delayed by the global crisis and its effects on supply chains. The U.N. World Food Program's Sudan-bound food assistance shipments are now traveling 9,000 kilometers (5,500 miles) farther to reach their destination, adding significant costs and time. Many vessels also avoid the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea, another crucial waterway, according to WFP shipping chief Henrik Hansen. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have threatened some shipping there.
Local fuel shortages compound the problem. Mathilde Vu, an advocacy manager with the Norwegian Refugee Council, said fuel shortages in some areas result from warring parties blocking essential supplies. Local fuel markets have been heavily bombed in recent months amid a "senseless escalation" of drone attacks nationwide.
Farmers are adapting by switching to cheaper crops that require less or no fertilizer and scaling back on growing corn, sesame, and other rain-fed crops—a shift that will further reduce food production in a country already facing famine.
Official response has been inadequate. Officials in Sudan's agriculture ministry did not immediately respond to requests for details on how they are addressing the crisis.
Why This Matters:
Sudan's agricultural collapse represents a cascading failure of interconnected systems—global supply chains, domestic institutions, and conflict prevention—that together are pushing millions toward starvation. When international disruptions combine with domestic conflict and institutional weakness, the burden falls heaviest on those with the least resources: subsistence farmers, rural families, and the urban poor dependent on affordable food. The fact that 19 million people are already facing acute hunger, with famine declared in major regions just one year ago, means this new crisis arrives at the worst possible moment. Without coordinated government support for farmers, stabilized supply chains, and humanitarian assistance, the planting season running from June to November will likely see reduced production that translates directly into deeper food insecurity. The case of Sudan demonstrates how global economic disruptions and local conflicts interact to undermine the basic ability of ordinary people to feed themselves and their families.