Daily struggles and small innovations
Farmers in villages such as Doka, Kum Shita, and Madag describe soaring input prices, climate shocks, and the arrival of displaced families. Despite these challenges, they continue to adapt.
SIPRA: helping Sudanese farmers adapt and rebuild in times of crisis
Sudan’s ongoing conflict has left much of the country’s agricultural land abandoned. Yet in Gedaref State, communities spared from direct fighting continue to cultivate their fields and search for ways to survive. Through the SIPRA programme, funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ZOA and partners work to restore food security and resilience in Sudan’s rainfed regions.
In a new publication, farmers are sharing their lived experiences of hardship and resilience in the midst of war.
22 september 2025
- In Doka, sorghum yields have increased drastically thanks to improved seeds and mechanisation.
- In Kum Shita, women’s associations process peanuts into oil and Dakwa, providing both food and income.
- In Madag, some farmers have shifted to flood-tolerant crops like pumpkins to cope with changing rainfall.
Women leading the way
In Kum Shita, women farmers are not only surviving the crisis — they are leading change. Through the El-Ruwad network, hundreds of women have joined forces to cultivate land, manage agribusiness initiatives, and process peanuts into oil and Dakwa. Their success challenges long-held stereotypes about women in agriculture.
As one farmer explained:
"We used to farm because we had to. Now we farm because we believe in it."
Farmer's wishes
The booklet highlights not only the struggles but also the practical solutions farmers propose. Their priorities include:
- affordable access to agricultural machinery,
- better seeds and climate-smart inputs,
- training and extension services,
- collective marketing and value-added processing,
- financing for key stages like planting and harvesting.
About SIPRA
SIPRA is implemented by ZOA, World Relief, SOS Sahel Sudan, Wageningen Centre for Development Innovation, and MetaMeta. Working across seven states, the programme strengthens food security, supports smallholder farmers, and helps rebuild Sudan’s agricultural backbone in the midst of crisis.
Download the paper now
Lived Experiences in Sudan’s Agricultural Heartland
Recommended reading
Want to learn more about SIPRA's work? The paper below outlines SIPRA’s approach, identifies enabling factors, and offers recommendations for donors and implementers.