In South Darfur, summer harvest collapses under drought
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Radio Dabanga
The locality of Mershing, in South Darfur, is facing a severe food crisis after the summer harvest collapsed, caused by insufficient rainfall and reduced cultivated land. According to its executive director, Oqba Abdel Hamid, only 40 to 50% of usual farmers planted this season, pushing families towards displacement areas, according to Radio Dabanga.
In the Mershing locality of South Darfur, Sudan, summer season agricultural production has collapsed. According to the locality’s executive director, Oqba Abdel Hamid, only 40 to 50% of farmers who usually cultivate their land began the season, and around 20% of those who started planting managed to produce, he told Radio Dabanga.
This fall follows an almost non-existent summer harvest, with crop losses in Darfur having been reported earlier. Yet Mershing’s economy relies on summer and winter crops, as well as gardens and orchards of fruit and vegetables.
Mr Abdel Hamid attributes the decline to insufficient rainfall, economic difficulties and farmers' fear that their land will be repeatedly encroached upon by herders. He says families are leaving the locality for Tawila and Shangil Tobaya, some under the effect of misleading campaigns announcing that humanitarian aid is available. Local authorities are calling for urgent humanitarian aid and are working to expand health, water and education services.
