Food Security in the Sudan

Abstract

The Sudan, with an area of one million square miles has a population of 26 million people, an annual GNP growth rate of 1 percent, and an inflation rate of over 70 percent. The country is heterogeneous in many respects including climate, geography, history, languages, and people. Eighty-five percent of the labor force is in the agricultural sector and agriculture contributes 30 percent to GNP. Ninety percent of the exports are agricultural raw materials that include: cotton, livestock, sesame, groundnuts, and gum arabic. Despite these exports, the country faces an acute balance of payment deficits, large budget deficits, and government expenditures. Sudan's external debt rose from $ 3.8 billion in 1978 to $ 13.5 billion in 1990. The depth of poverty determines the impact of the famine. The effects of food shortages, and purchasing power collapse are not felt in higher income groups with good asset bases. The poor face long-term constraints in food production, access to education, health care, markets, credit, improved inputs, and information. Over half a million people have died between 1984 and 1990 due to starvation. The situation is worse in