The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) received $2.3 million in funds from the Swedish government on Tuesday to support the post-harvest losses project implemented by the United Nations in Sudan.

The WFP issued a statement welcoming the Swedish grant and announcing its integration with the productive safety net program.

The WFP stressed that these funds would make it possible to upgrade the capacities of more than 34,000 smallholder farmers across the country through training in post-harvest handling methods and the use of tight storage equipment to increase the availability of food at the household level.

The fund further will be used to expand the ongoing training of farmers on preventing post-harvest losses, purchase and distribute 104,550 additional storage bags and 17,425 manuals, in addition to building a warehouse in communities through the method of productive safety nets.

“In a year when more than a third of the Sudanese people face different forms of food insecurity, any loss or waste in the diet is simply unacceptable,” said Eddie Rowe, WFP Representative and Country Director for Sudan.

Rowe added that the contribution of the Swedish government would go a long way in ensuring capacities to improve food security, reduce post-harvest losses and help preserve food in greater quantity and better quality to meet the needs of the people of Sudan.

The farmers in Sudan have been complaining of great difficulties in storing crops because of weak fertilizers, which leads to heavy losses due to crop damage.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, more than 30% of food — equivalent to about $4 billion — is lost annually in sub-Saharan Africa due to poor harvests.

“We are pleased to continue our support to Sudanese smallholder farmers through our partner, the World Food Program. With the additional funds of SEK 26 million, the program could expand work to reduce post-harvest losses and increase food security in Sudan,” Said Segny Bergstaller, Sweden’s Ambassador to Sudan.

A comprehensive assessment of food security and fragility by the WFP showed that 15 million Sudanese are currently facing severe food insecurity.

Last March, the FAO predicted that 18 million Sudanese will face severe hunger by last September due to a lack of crops that negatively affected food availability and livelihood opportunities.

Source - https://sudantribune.com