Between the Ruins of War and the Hope of Recovery: How Can Sudan Restore Its Agricultural and Industrial Vitality?

Nu’man Yousif Mohammed **
The war that swept through Sudan was not merely a passing military confrontation; it evolved into an economic and social earthquake that struck at the very foundations of the country’s productive sectors. The agricultural sector — both crop and livestock production — suffered devastating losses through the looting of production inputs, destruction of irrigation systems, disruption of supply chains, displacement of farmers and pastoralists, and the death and smuggling of livestock across borders. Meanwhile, the industrial sector received a crushing blow as factories were vandalised, electricity supplies collapsed, skilled workers emigrated, and national capital steadily eroded.
Yet despite these wounds, Sudan still possesses the resources and potential that could enable it to rise again — provided there is political will, a realistic economic vision, and a transition from crisis management to the deliberate creation of recovery.
Agriculture: The Sector That Cannot Wait
Throughout Sudan’s modern history, agriculture has remained the backbone of the national economy, thanks to the country’s fertile land, abundant water resources, and diverse climate. However, the recent war has pushed this sector years backwards.
The effects of the conflict went far beyond the disruption of agricultural seasons. They extended to:
The looting of tractors, harvesters, and agricultural machinery.
The loss of improved seeds, fertilisers, and pesticides.
The collapse of agricultural financing networks.
Damage to major irrigation schemes.
The absence of security in production areas.
The displacement of agricultural labour.
The death and cross-border smuggling of large numbers of livestock.
This means the crisis is no longer merely a production crisis, but one of food security and economic survival itself.
How Can the Agricultural Sector Be Saved?
Declaring Agriculture a Matter of National Security
Agriculture cannot be treated as an ordinary economic sector. Countries emerging from war often begin their recovery from the land itself.
Accordingly, agriculture should become a top national priority through:
Allocating urgent emergency budgets.
Exempting production inputs from taxes and duties.
Directing banking finance towards real production.
Establishing a national agricultural rehabilitation fund.
Rehabilitating Agricultural Infrastructure
Agricultural recovery begins with restoring the essential tools of production through:
Repairing irrigation canals and pumping stations.
Providing subsidised fuel for farmers.
Urgently importing replacement agricultural machinery.
Rehabilitating warehouses, silos, and agricultural roads.
Priority should also be given to major schemes such as Al-Jazirah, Al-Rahad, and New Halfa, given their direct impact on food security and employment.
Supporting Small Producers
Experience has shown that small farmers and pastoralists are often the quickest to resume activity after conflict if provided with minimal support. This includes:
Small-scale and micro agricultural finance.
Providing seeds and veterinary medicines.
Establishing genuine cooperative associations.
Supporting rural women as a pillar of production.
Moving from Traditional to Smart Agriculture
Paradoxically, the war may offer an opportunity to rebuild the sector on more efficient foundations through:
Introducing modern technologies.
Using solar energy for irrigation.
Expanding agro-industrial processing.
Creating digital databases for production and marketing.
Livestock: A Wasted Resource
Sudan possesses one of the largest livestock herds in Africa, yet this resource has long been managed through outdated methods. The war exposed the fragility of the sector due to:
Weak veterinary services.
The absence of processing industries.
Widespread smuggling.
The weakness of modern slaughterhouse infrastructure.
True recovery therefore, requires:
Modernising grazing systems.
Establishing slaughterhouses, dairy, and meat-processing factories.
Opening new export markets.
Developing the leather and pharmaceutical industries linked to livestock production.
Industry: From an Import Economy to a Production Economy
If agriculture provides raw materials, industry adds value. Yet Sudan’s industrial sector suffered near-total collapse during the war, particularly in major industrial cities.
It now faces enormous challenges, including:
The looting of production lines.
Electricity and fuel shortages.
Rising operating costs.
The migration of skilled labour.
The erosion of capital.
Disruptions within the banking system.
Many small- and medium-sized factories have also lost the ability to restart operations due to a lack of financing and insurance.
How Can the Industrial Sector Be Rebuilt?
Starting with Agriculture-Linked Industries
Attempting to build an industrial sector detached from local resources would be a mistake. Priority should instead be given to:
Oil-processing factories.
Fruit and vegetable canning.
Sugar production.
Spinning and textiles.
Leather industries.
Animal feed and dairy production.
These industries are less costly, faster to revive, and more capable of generating employment.
Providing Energy and Infrastructure
There can be no industry without stable electricity, transport networks, roads, and communications. Any industrial recovery plan must therefore include:
Rehabilitating the national electricity grid.
Expanding solar energy.
Establishing secure industrial zones.
Repairing ports and railways.
Attracting Domestic and Expatriate Capital
Sudanese capital has not disappeared — it has merely lost confidence. Restoring that confidence requires:
Guaranteeing legal stability.
Combating corruption and arbitrary levies.
Protecting investors.
Simplifying procedures.
Offering tax and customs incentives.
Sudanese expatriates could also play a pivotal role if transparent and secure investment vehicles are created.
Supporting Small and Medium Enterprises
International experience confirms that post-war recovery often begins with small enterprises because they are:
Faster to restart.
Less costly.
Better able to generate employment.
Accordingly, accessible financing programmes, business incubators, and vocational training centres should be established to rehabilitate young people and equip them for productive work.
Financing: The Most Dangerous Missing Link
No agricultural or industrial recovery project can succeed without an effective financing system. Yet Sudan’s banking sector itself was severely affected by the war, making it necessary to:
Restructure troubled banks.
Direct financing towards productive sectors.
Reduce excessive consumer financing.
Establish risk-guarantee institutions.
Attract regional and international reconstruction support.
Islamic finance could also play an important role through partnership, salam, and istisna’a financing models, particularly in agriculture and industry.
The State and the Private Sector: An Indispensable Partnership
The state alone cannot rebuild the economy, just as the private sector cannot operate within an unstable environment. The coming phase therefore, requires:
A state that sets policy and guarantees stability.
A private sector that drives production and investment.
Genuine partnerships with universities and research centres.
Modern economies are not built through administrative decisions alone, but through knowledge, planning, and innovation.
Conclusion: Sudan Does Not Lack Resources — It Lacks Management
Perhaps one of the greatest losses caused by the war has been the deepening of public despair. Yet history shows that nations are not judged by the scale of destruction they endure, but by their ability to rise afterwards.
Despite everything, Sudan still possesses land, water, livestock, human resources, a strategic geographical position, and promising regional markets.
Transforming these assets into genuine recovery, however, requires a transition from a war economy to a production economy, and from conflict over power to competition in construction and development.
The road to restoring Sudan will not begin in politics alone, but in the fields and factories where strong nations are built, and people’s dignity is restored.

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