Food supply gap in North Darfur: agricultural survey

The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry in North Darfur has revealed that there is a food gap of 142,672 metric tons for this season, as well as a significant rise in prices in North Darfur state. Minister of Agriculture, Issa Mohamed Abdullah, said in the Ministry’s statement to the State Legislative Council on Wednesday that the results of an agricultural survey in the post-harvest season showed that the annual need of food of the state’s population amounted to 243,573 metric tons. According to the survey in collaboration with the Coordination of food security and livelihoods, the total production of millet and maize in North Darfur amounted to 68,963 metric tons, the amount of grain to 5,619 metric tons, and 48,715 metric tons of grain alternatives were produced. The total food supply in the state resulted to 123,297 metric tons. Minister Abdullah noted that the survey also found that 1,379 metric tons of food supply have been lost in transport, while the animal consumption has amounted to 12,179 metric tons. He explained that El Tina locality and Jebel Cea area of Kabkabyia locality have not been covered with the survey.File photo: Woman harvesting millet in Darfur