A Financing Portfolio to Support the Summer Season in Blue Nile State

Damazin – Sudanhorizon
The Sudanese Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, Ismat Qureshi, announced an agreement to establish a financing portfolio to support the upcoming summer agricultural season and provide necessary agricultural inputs to farmers in the rain-fed sector of Blue Nile State.
This announcement came during an open meeting he held with farmers from the Blue Nile region in Damazin. The meeting was attended by the acting governor of the region, Daoud Idris, the Director General of the Sudanese Agricultural Bank, Salah al-Din Muhammad Abd al-Rahim, the Director General of Production and Economic Resources in the region, Dr. Jamal Babiker, the head of producers’ organizations, and a number of farmers.
The Minister explained that agricultural financing will be implemented through a Salam (forward) agreement, with simplified financing procedures and the provision of improved seeds in accordance with approved financing policies. This will be accompanied by agricultural extension services and agricultural insurance. He also noted that extensive reforms are underway at the Agricultural Bank to strengthen its national role in serving producers across Sudan’s various states.
Qureshi pointed out that global tensions and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have contributed to rising fertilizer prices and increased agricultural production costs. He affirmed that the government is making efforts to address the cost of gasoline and alleviate the burden on farmers. He also emphasized the importance of water harvesting as a strategic national project, calling for the expansion of maize and millet cultivation, the preservation of forests, and the prevention of encroachment upon them.
For his part, the Director General of the Sudanese Agricultural Bank affirmed the bank’s intention to expand its branch network within the region and increase storage capacity by constructing modern silos and cold storage facilities. He explained that financing would be provided through a deferred payment plan, taking into account the circumstances of insolvent farmers and rescheduling their debts.
In turn, the head of the Farmers’ Committee reviewed the challenges facing the agricultural sector in the region, despite its abundant natural resources and vast agricultural lands. He pointed to problems of insolvency, limited financing, and shortages of seeds and fuel. He called for the postponement of debt repayments, attention to be given to small farmers, and the timely provision of production inputs.

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