Al-Azraq Calls on Federal Agriculture to Provide Winter Inputs

Lieutenant General (Ret.) Al-Sadiq Mohamed Al-Azraq, the acting Governor of Kassala State, has called on the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to urgently address production challenges by providing essential inputs for the upcoming winter season. His appeal was specifically focused on the Halfa Al-Jadida Agricultural Project, where 75,000 feddans of wheat are cultivated. He also stressed the need for the cleaning of irrigation channels and main waterways to ensure the success of the season.

Al-Azraq made these remarks during his address at the National Harvest Festival, held at the Kalhout Agricultural Project. The event was attended by the Minister of Federal Governance, Engineer Mohamed Kurtkila Saleh, the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Omar Al-Bashir, the Deputy Director of the Agricultural Bank, the resident representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and numerous state leaders, as well as representatives from organizations supporting the agricultural sector and the project’s farmers.

Al-Azraq Calls on Federal Agriculture to Provide Winter Inputs

Expressing his pride in hosting both the Harvest Festival and World Food Day in Kassala State, the governor emphasized the significance of the event, which underscored the state's leadership role in agriculture, particularly through the Halfa Al-Jadida Agricultural Project—currently the only major agricultural project operating under the current circumstances. Al-Azraq also highlighted Sudan's vast agricultural potential, including the country's extensive agricultural land and diverse climate, which allows for the cultivation of a wide range of crops.

He praised the efforts of those managing the agricultural sector, recognizing their ability to turn challenges into opportunities by increasing production per feddan, thus contributing to food security. He also commended the farmers, likening their work in the fields to another front in the battle for dignity.

For the first time in years, Kassala State successfully cultivated 4 million feddans, including 3 million feddans of various types of sorghum across different sectors, as well as 800,000 feddans of wheat. Additionally, 40,000 feddans in the Gash Delta were allocated for displaced people from Gezira and Sennar states.

The governor emphasized the need to find alternative energy sources for agricultural projects due to the rising cost of fuel and prolonged power outages. He called on the federal ministry to improve road infrastructure, facilitate access to production inputs, and meet marketing needs.

Al-Azraq also praised the productive areas within the Kalhout Agricultural Project, noting that their success was the result of collaboration among multiple parties, including the federal ministry, the state government, the Ministry of Irrigation, the Gash River Management Authority, the Halfa Agricultural Authority, the Agricultural Bank, and the farmers themselves. He also acknowledged the support of international and national organizations, which provided free seeds to the farmers.

The governor urged farmers to pay attention to their fields and projects, to develop agriculture, and to implement technical packages with a focus on improved seeds.