Agricultural Investment Forum in Khartoum Discusses Challenges Facing Gum Arabic Sector

Khartoum – Sudanhorizon

On Monday, the Sudanese Agricultural Investment and Trade Forum continued its proceedings at the headquarters of the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development in Khartoum, with the participation of various stakeholders from the agricultural sector, financial institutions, and producer organizations.

Omar Taha, Coordinator of Producer Organizations at the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, chaired roundtable discussions that addressed key challenges in the production and marketing of Gum Arabic. The sessions explored potential solutions and focused on developing a comprehensive strategy to advance the sector and enhance its contribution to the national economy.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture’s media office, the discussions highlighted several obstacles facing the Gum Arabic sector, including a decline in interest in planting _Hashab- (acacia) trees and producing Gum Arabic, difficulties in securing the financing required to develop production, and security challenges within the “Gum Arabic belt”—all of which hinder production activities, marketing, and investment in these regions.

Participants emphasized the importance of implementing practical and sustainable solutions. These include providing accessible financing for producers, encouraging the expansion of Gum Arabic tree cultivation, improving services for producers, and strengthening the role of associations and producer organizations in managing production and marketing processes. Such measures are intended to boost productivity and improve the incomes of rural communities. The Financing Guarantee Agency announced that the Ministry of Finance has approved the establishment of a value chain fund. This initiative aims to support productive activities, enhance investment opportunities in the agricultural sector, and provide financing mechanisms that connect producers to markets while improving the efficiency of supply and marketing chains.

For their part, financial institutions confirmed that funding—along with insurance coverage—will be channeled through producers’ associations and organizations. This approach is intended to improve producers’ access to financial services, mitigate risks associated with agricultural activities, and foster stability in the production process.

Participants in the roundtable discussion emphasized the need for coordinated efforts among government entities, financial institutions, the private sector, and producers’ organizations. They underscored the importance of developing a clear strategy for the gum arabic sector—one that addresses production, financing, and security-related obstacles, while strengthening value chains from the initial production stage through to processing and marketing.

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