New $87 Million Project to Boost Sudan's Food Production

BOOST is designed to help farmers increase agricultural output, reduce post-harvest losses, improve incomes and strengthen connections to local markets.

A new $87 million agricultural project has been launched in Sudan to strengthen food production, support farming communities and improve resilience in areas critical to the country's food supply. The four-year initiative, known as the Boosting Agrifood Systems Resilience in Sudan Project (BOOST), is a partnership between the African Development Bank Group and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). The project was officially launched on 22 May during a ceremony at the African Development Bank's East Africa Regional Office in Nairobi.

The investment comes as Sudan continues to face one of the world's most severe food security crises. More than 19 million people across the country are currently experiencing crisis levels of hunger or worse, creating an urgent need for solutions that strengthen local food production and reduce dependence on emergency aid. BOOST is designed to help farmers increase agricultural output, reduce post-harvest losses, improve incomes and strengthen connections to local markets. Organizers say the project represents an important step toward supporting food production even in the midst of ongoing conflict and economic disruption.

Focus on key farming regions

The project will operate in four locations across the rainfed agricultural zones of Sennar State and Blue Nile State, regions that have traditionally played an important role in Sudan's food production. Despite their agricultural potential, these areas have faced years of challenges linked to conflict, limited infrastructure and traditional farming practices that have reduced productivity and pushed many households toward subsistence farming.

Through BOOST, more than 230,000 farming households will receive support aimed at improving production and strengthening livelihoods. Over the life of the project, participating farmers are expected to produce nearly one million metric tons of cereals and pulses.

According to project estimates, this amount of production could meet the annual cereal consumption needs of nearly nine million people and provide enough pulses to feed more than 15 million people for a year. The programme will also support the creation and development of farmer groups, providing training opportunities and helping farmers build agribusiness skills that can improve long-term economic opportunities.

Building resilience beyond emergency aid

Officials say the project reflects a growing effort to move beyond short-term humanitarian assistance by investing in sustainable food production and agricultural recovery.

WFP Sudan Country Director Abdallah Alwardat said farmers already participating in resilience programmes have demonstrated the value of supporting local agriculture, even during periods of conflict.

He noted that many farmers working with WFP have been able to maintain their agricultural activities and improve wheat and sorghum yields despite the ongoing challenges facing the country.

African Development Bank Country Manager for Sudan David Muthusi Mutuku described investment in farmers as an investment in Sudan's future recovery and resilience. He said stronger agricultural production can help revive rural economies, improve food security and enable communities to better withstand future shocks.

The project will be implemented by WFP under the African Development Bank's third-party implementation arrangements, with support from other United Nations agencies and agricultural research institutions.

BOOST also builds on the achievements of the ongoing Sudan Emergency Wheat Production Project, another initiative implemented by WFP. Together, these programmes are intended to strengthen agricultural resilience while maintaining support for communities facing severe hardship.

Since 2023, the African Development Bank Group and WFP have collaborated on resilience and recovery programmes in Sudan worth nearly $267 million, highlighting the growing partnership between the two organizations as they work to address the country's food security challenges.