Sudanese farmers report ‘friction’ over cash shortage

In El Gedaref and North Darfur states, farmers have protested against the liquidity shortage that has been causing friction between farmers and workers.

The head of the agricultural chamber in North Darfur, Mohamed Ali Abdelrahman El Haj, said that the renewed shortage of cash has led to quarrels between workers and farmers.

In addition, agricultural workers and merchants in North Darfur complained about the lack of liquidity in banks and ATMs, which resulted in the complete paralysis in their trading and agricultural activities.

A listener informed Radio Dabanga that the banks in the state have set the maximum withdrawal by SDG1,000 ($35.50*) a day, which hinders their interests and business.

For example, the sesame harvest is now in its early stages in El Gedaref in southeast Sudan, but banks have refused to allow farmers to withdraw enough cash to pay employees and costs.

In the beginning of this month the head of the agricultural committee of El Gedaref legislative council, El Safi El Awad, warned of the failure of harvesting operations and the loss of more than nine million acres of cultivated area for this season because of the liquidity shortage.

* Based on the daily US Dollar rate quoted by the Central Bank of Sudan.