The Sudanese government has urged insurance companies to use deposit surpluses and investments to finance the 2026-2027 winter agricultural season.

Sudan’s agricultural sector is facing a severe financing crisis that threatens the upcoming winter season.

This extends the challenges that plagued the previous summer season, which was disrupted by fuel and funding shortages, high production costs, and declining support amid the ongoing war.

U.N. organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), have warned of significant funding gaps in Sudan’s agricultural and humanitarian plans.

Funding for some of these initiatives has only reached 11% to 22% of the required budgets.

Finance Minister Gibril Ibrahim Mohamed called on insurers to direct part of their available funds to the winter agricultural season, the finance ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

The initiative aims to strengthen state efforts to support agricultural production, achieve food security, and provide the resources the national economy needs.

During a meeting with insurance company executives, the minister emphasized the importance of expanding the sector’s role in financing productive activities.

He stressed the need to utilize financial resources to support priority sectors, primarily agriculture.

The winter season represents a critical opportunity to boost production and meet the country’s demand for strategic crops, he noted.

The minister also denied claims by external parties that Sudan is approaching famine.

He said these allegations are not based on objective facts, adding that the government is working to enhance local production and mobilize resources to ensure food security.

Salah Mohamed Abdel Rahim, general manager of the Agricultural Bank of Sudan, said the meeting focused on ways to utilize insurers’ financial resources for the winter season.

He described the meeting as fruitful, noting a consensus on the insurance sector’s contribution to supporting national food security efforts.

Insurance companies said they were ready to make a portion of their resources available to the Agricultural Bank of Sudan, Abdel Rahim said.

This move will help fund agricultural operations, direct resources toward the productive economy, and strengthen agriculture’s role in broader economic growth.

Source - https://sudantribune.com