The Sudan | Agricultural Livelihoods and Food Security in the Context Of
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THE SUDAN Agricultural livelihoods and food security in the context of COVID-19 Monitoring Report January 2021 THE SUDAN Agricultural livelihoods and food security in the context of COVID-19 Monitoring Report January 2021 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Rome, 2021 REQUIRED CITATION FAO. 2021. The Sudan | Food supply, agricultural livelihoods and food security in the context of COVID-19: Monitoring Report – January 2021. Rome. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb2262en The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Dashed lines on maps represent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement. 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Cover photograph: ©FAO Contents Abbreviations ......................................................................................................................... v Key highlights ........................................................................................................................ vi COVID-19 and other risk factors in the country .................................................................... 1 Crop production and marketing ............................................................................................ 3 Livestock production and marketing ..................................................................................... 5 Fisheries ................................................................................................................................. 7 Food security, livelihoods and coping mechanisms .............................................................. 8 Level of assistance, required needs and most affected population groups ...................... 10 Conclusion: key prospects and recommendations ............................................................. 12 References ........................................................................................................................... 13 iii Figures Figure 1. The Sudan crop calendar............................................................................................... 3 Figures 2 and 3. Wholesale price variation for sorghum and millet in the Sudan ...................... 4 Figure 4. Number of respondents interviewed reporting on different levels of food availability compared with the usual for this time of the year ...................................................................... 8 Figure 5. Number of respondents reporting on the adoption of various negative coping mechanisms .................................................................................................................................. 9 Figure 6. Number of respondents reporting on disruption of humanitarian assistance .......... 10 Figure 7. Number of respondents reporting on new/increased assistance since COVID-19 .... 10 Tables Table 1. Number of key informant interviews conducted at state level ..................................... 1 Table 2. Reported main needs to boost agricultural production in order of importance ........ 11 iv Abbreviations COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FEWS NET Famine Early Warning Systems Network FPMA Food Price and Monitoring Analysis GIEWS Global Information and Early Warning System on Food and Agriculture IPC Integrated Food Security Phase Classification NGO Non-governmental organization OCHA Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs TOT Terms of trade v Key highlights > In July−August 2020, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) conducted a food security and agricultural livelihood impact assessment taking into account the effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A total of 448 extension officers from the Ministry of Agriculture in 16 out of the Sudan’s 18 states were interviewed. Additional secondary data were analysed and included. > The assessment indicates that the effects of COVID-19 urgent and essential restrictions have affected the agricultural value chain (from producers to consumers) and have further impacted the already fragile food security situation in the country. > Farmers and agropastoral communities who rely on access to land, water, pasture, labour and favourable crop/livestock production for their food security and income generation, are among the most affected population groups in the context of COVID-19 and assessed agricultural areas. > The June/September 2020 rainy season, coinciding with the main agricultural season for coarse grains, has generally been favourable across the country. > Prices of sorghum and millet continued to surge in August 2020 and reached record highs, with seasonal patterns compounded by a further depreciation of the local currency on the parallel market. vi > Production costs such as animal feed and drugs were reported to be much higher across all assessed states compared with the same time in 2019. Meanwhile, livestock prices continued to increase in July and August 2020. > In the Red Sea state, the price of first class fish increased by up to 275 percent in July 2020, compared with the same time in 2019. > Due to the increased prices of food commodities, many poor and vulnerable households experienced reduced purchasing power. > The high transportation cost of food commodities due to fuel shortages and limited movement as a result of COVID-19 restrictions, has further impacted food availability in almost all markets. > Anticipatory action and response to COVID-19 contributes to availability of and stabilizing access to food for the most food-insecure populations, as well as ensures continuity of the food supply chain and prevents the transmission of the virus among all actors involved. vii COVID-19 and other risk factors in the country Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Sudan in mid-March 2020, the Government confirmed that over 13 400 people contracted the virus, including 833 who died from the disease, as of 5 September 2020 (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs [OCHA], 2020). Most confirmed cases were reported in urban areas, with approximately 70 percent in Khartoum (Famine Early Warning Systems Network [FEWS NET], 2020). Since March 2020, the Government has put in place essential and urgent measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, including curfews, closures of airports and borders, a ban of public gatherings and restrictions on internal population movements. During this time, most economic activities continued, while weak public compliance was observed for government-imposed restrictions and containment measures. In July, public spaces and businesses officially reopened. However, restrictions on public transportation within cities and between states remain in place, in