IMF, South Sudan in Pact for Emergency Funds of $112.7 Mln

Sacs of corn are loaded onto trucks in the Sudanese Red Sea city of Port Sudan, as part of the US support for Sudan in the field of humanitarian aid, on November 20, 2022. (AFP)
Sacs of corn are loaded onto trucks in the Sudanese Red Sea city of Port Sudan, as part of the US support for Sudan in the field of humanitarian aid, on November 20, 2022. (AFP)
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IMF, South Sudan in Pact for Emergency Funds of $112.7 Mln

Sacs of corn are loaded onto trucks in the Sudanese Red Sea city of Port Sudan, as part of the US support for Sudan in the field of humanitarian aid, on November 20, 2022. (AFP)
Sacs of corn are loaded onto trucks in the Sudanese Red Sea city of Port Sudan, as part of the US support for Sudan in the field of humanitarian aid, on November 20, 2022. (AFP)

The International Monetary Fund and South Sudan have reached a staff-level agreement for the release of about $112.7 million in emergency financing, the fund said on Tuesday. 

"This emergency financing under the new Food Shock Window will help South Sudan address food insecurity, support social spending, and boost international reserves," the IMF said in a statement. 

The IMF's executive board will approve the financing in coming weeks, the fund said. 

In early-November, United Nations agencies said up to 7.8 million people in South Sudan, two-third of the population, may face severe food shortages during next year's April-to-July lean season due to floods, drought and conflict. 

On Tuesday, the IMF put the number of people experiencing severe food insecurity at an estimated 8.3 million. 

"The combination of continued localized conflict, four consecutive years of severe flooding, and the rising price of staple commodities from Russia's war in Ukraine has increased the number of people experiencing severe food insecurity," it said. 

South Sudan erupted into civil war shortly after getting independence from Sudan in 2011 and while a peace agreement signed four years ago is largely holding, the transitional government has been slow to unify various military factions. 



Saudi Arabia Achieves 66% Grape Self-Sufficiency

The growth in grape production is a result of initiatives aimed at developing agricultural production chains and stimulating investment in competitive crops. - SPA
The growth in grape production is a result of initiatives aimed at developing agricultural production chains and stimulating investment in competitive crops. - SPA
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Saudi Arabia Achieves 66% Grape Self-Sufficiency

The growth in grape production is a result of initiatives aimed at developing agricultural production chains and stimulating investment in competitive crops. - SPA
The growth in grape production is a result of initiatives aimed at developing agricultural production chains and stimulating investment in competitive crops. - SPA

The Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture reported that Saudi Arabia's grape production surpassed 122,000 tons in 2023, reflecting the robust growth of the local agricultural sector and its ability to meet significant market demands.

This production has contributed to a 66% self-sufficiency rate, strengthening national food security and reducing reliance on imports, according to SPA.
The Kingdom's grape industry comprises over 7.1 million grape trees, with more than 6.1 million bearing fruit, underscoring the sector's productive capacity. The diversity and quality of local grape varieties have made them highly competitive in domestic markets.
This variety also supports processing industries, enabling the production of natural juices, jams, raisins, and other food products, thereby enhancing the agricultural sector’s economic value in line with Vision 2030 goals.
The ministry continues to support farmers by providing access to modern technologies such as smart irrigation and organic farming practices to improve productivity, quality, and water resource efficiency.

The growth in grape production is a result of initiatives aimed at developing agricultural production chains and stimulating investment in competitive crops.