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Coronavirus Threatens Food Security in Sudan

Food security in Sudan is facing a new crisis with the precautionary measures taken by the state to curb the spread of the novel Coronavirus. Reuters
Food security in Sudan is facing a new crisis with the precautionary measures taken by the state to curb the spread of the novel Coronavirus. Reuters
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Coronavirus Threatens Food Security in Sudan

Food security in Sudan is facing a new crisis with the precautionary measures taken by the state to curb the spread of the novel Coronavirus. Reuters
Food security in Sudan is facing a new crisis with the precautionary measures taken by the state to curb the spread of the novel Coronavirus. Reuters

Food security in Sudan faces new challenges as the government takes restrictive measures on stemming the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The measures have greatly affected producers especially those working in the agriculture sector, which represents 44% of the Sudanese economy.

The curfew imposed on producers in the agriculture and industrial sectors threatens the future of food security in the African country, where preparations for summer seasonal crops are usually made in April and May.

Sudan's Ambassador to Italy and Permanent Representative to UN agencies in Rome, Abdul Wahab Hijazi, said that with the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, entering full lockdown there is a desperate need to rush completing agriculture tasks for the upcoming summer season.

Hijazi warned that the shutdown harshly affects small-scale producers and farmers as they are the most vulnerable.

The agricultural sector is one of the largest economic sectors in Sudan with 80% of the population depending on agriculture. The sector participates with 44% of the gross domestic product and is the main driver of agricultural industries.

Official reports indicate that Sudan has about 200 million acres of arable land, of which only 25% is used.

The Sudanese cabinet of ministers had formed a supreme committee tasked with having the summer seasonal crop thrive by providing needed aid to farmers.

Meanwhile, the Sudanese undersecretary for the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Abdul Qadir Turkawi, played down the impact of the state’s COVID-19 measures on the progress of operations for the country's agricultural season.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that the ministry, last March, started importing seeds and fertilizers in cooperation with the Sudanese Agricultural Bank.

“The situation is reassuring for the success of the agricultural season despite the difficulties encountered,” Turkawi said, clarifying that the global slowdown due to the coronavirus will affect only the import of a few seeds, because most seeds are produced locally through the Arab Company for Seeds Production.

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Saudi Government Calls for Private Sector Involvement to Enhance Vision 2030 Reports

King Abdullah Financial Center in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
King Abdullah Financial Center in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Government Calls for Private Sector Involvement to Enhance Vision 2030 Reports

King Abdullah Financial Center in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
King Abdullah Financial Center in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi government has directed greater private sector involvement in shaping the content of Vision 2030 communications and reports, according to sources who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat. The goal is to amplify the impact of the annual Vision 2030 reports by making them more comprehensive and directly relevant to the business community.

The Strategic Management Office in the Saudi Royal Court has invited private sector stakeholders to review the annual Vision 2030 report to raise awareness of governmental achievements. Businesses are encouraged to provide feedback to ensure that future reports are more impactful and valuable for their audience.

The initiative aims to gather feedback on whether the current report format effectively delivers information relevant to the business sector. It also seeks input on the balance between general achievements and sector-specific details, as well as insights on the report’s accessibility and usefulness to business audiences.

According to the sources, the government is also evaluating the level of transparency in the report, particularly in showcasing progress and achievements. Stakeholders are being asked to suggest areas of focus for future editions to make the reports more comprehensive and relevant to their needs.

Additional proposals include enhancing collaboration between the Vision 2030 communications team and Saudi chambers of commerce to better report on progress and achievements to the private sector. Furthermore, the government is exploring the inclusion of practical success stories from businesses that have played a role in achieving Vision 2030 goals.

Since its inception, Vision 2030 has worked to identify and address challenges facing businesses. Significant reforms have been implemented to remove barriers, ensuring the private sector can fulfill its vital role in driving economic growth.

Efforts have included reforms to streamline the business environment, enhance the quality and efficiency of government services, and digitize processes. Additionally, numerous programs, initiatives, funding platforms, and business incubators and accelerators have been launched to support the private sector.

The Vision 2030 annual report for 2023 highlighted strong program performance, with 87% of the year’s 1,064 initiatives either completed or on track. Among the 243 key performance indicators (KPIs) identified, 81% of third-level KPIs met their targets, while 105 exceeded future targets set for 2024–2025.

The report also noted that non-oil gross domestic product (GDP) reached SAR 1.889 trillion, compared to a baseline of SAR 1.519 trillion. The 2023 target was SAR 1.934 trillion, with the ultimate Vision 2030 target set at SAR 4.97 trillion.

Private sector contributions to GDP increased to 45%, meeting the 2023 target and surpassing the baseline of 40.3%. The long-term Vision 2030 target is 65%.