African Development Bank provides $100 million grant for Sudan wheat project

The African Development Bank has committed to providing $100 million for the second phase of a wheat production project in Sudan, in an effort to enhance food security amidst disruptions caused by conflict. This announcement follows the Food and Agriculture Organization's report indicating a 46% decrease in Sudan's grain production. The project, set to be managed by the UN World Food Programme in the next year, builds on the success of its first phase, which saw the distribution of climate-adapted wheat seeds and fertilizers to over 170,000 smallholder farmers, resulting in the production of 645,000 metric tons of wheat, which covers 22% of Sudan's needs. Agriculture is a key employer and contributor to Sudan's economy.

The African Development Bank will grant $100 million to finance the second phase of a wheat production project in Sudan, the finance ministry said on Tuesday, aiming to improve food security as conflict disrupts farming. The announcement follows a warning from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on March 20 that Sudan’s grain production had dropped by 46% year-on-year due to the conflict. Finance Undersecretary Mohamed Bashar Mohamed said the African Development Bank approved the funding for the project’s second phase, to be implemented next year by the UN World Food Programme (WFP). The WFP implemented the project’s first phase with $76.8 million from the African Development Bank over the past two years under a 2022 agreement, Bashar added. The African Development Bank said in June that the first phase involved distributing climate-adapted wheat seeds and fertilizers to more than 170,000 smallholder farmers. The bank further said the project helped produce 645,000 metric ...