Khartoum: Farmers across Sudan are facing growing uncertainty as rising fertilizer and fuel prices threaten the country’s agricultural season and deepen an already severe humanitarian crisis. The increase in costs, linked to regional conflict and disruptions in global shipping routes, is placing enormous pressure on a country already devastated by civil war and hunger.
For many farmers, this year’s planting season may become impossible.
In the fertile farming regions of Gezira and areas surrounding Omdurman, farmers say the price of fertilizer has risen to levels they can no longer afford. A bag of urea fertilizer that cost around 11 dollars last year is now being sold for nearly 50 dollars in some markets. Diesel prices have also increased sharply, making irrigation and transportation far more expensive.
Many farmers say they are now considering leaving parts of their land uncultivated because they cannot afford seeds, fuel, and fertilizer together.
The crisis comes as Sudan continues to suffer from a brutal conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, which began in April 2023. The war has destroyed infrastructure, displaced millions of people, and disrupted food production across the country.
Agriculture has long been one of Sudan’s most important economic sectors, employing a large part of the population and supplying staple foods such as sorghum, millet, wheat, and sesame. But ongoing violence, combined with rising global costs, is now threatening the country’s ability to feed itself.
The latest economic shock is linked to growing tensions involving Iran and instability around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping routes. Sudan depends heavily on imported fertilizer and fuel that move through Gulf shipping lanes. Delays and rerouting of cargo vessels have slowed supplies and increased prices throughout the region.
Shipping companies have reportedly been forced to take longer and more expensive routes to avoid unsafe waters. As transport costs rise, the impact is being felt directly by farmers and ordinary families in Sudan.
Humanitarian agencies warn that the situation could become even more dangerous in the coming months. The United Nations World Food Programme estimates that around 19 million people in Sudan are currently facing acute hunger. Several regions, especially in Darfur and Kordofan, have already reported famine like conditions.
Aid groups say relief operations are also becoming more expensive because of fuel shortages and transport difficulties. Deliveries of food, medicines, and emergency supplies are taking longer to reach communities in need.
For families already struggling with displacement and unemployment, the fear of another failed agricultural season is creating deep anxiety. In many rural areas, farming is the only source of income and food security. If fewer crops are planted this year, experts warn that food shortages and prices could worsen significantly by the end of 2026.
Economists say Sudan is becoming a clear example of how global conflicts can affect vulnerable countries far from the center of the crisis. A war in the Middle East, rising oil prices, and disruptions in international shipping are now directly influencing whether Sudanese farmers can grow food.
International agencies are urging stronger support for Sudan’s agricultural sector, including emergency fertilizer supplies, financial assistance for farmers, and greater humanitarian access. Without immediate help, experts fear millions more people could be pushed into hunger and poverty.
Despite the hardships, many Sudanese farmers say they still hope for peace and stability. But for now, uncertainty hangs over the fields as the planting season begins under the shadow of war, rising costs, and a worsening humanitarian emergency.