Rebuilding the Breadbasket
Why AJ Jazirah is Central to Sudan's Food Security
This brief examines the collapse of the agricultural system in Aj Jazirah State, once Sudan’s breadbasket, where conflict, political disruption, and climate shocks have pushed the region into emergency-level food insecurity. Before the war, Aj Jazirah produced around 45% of Sudan’s sorghum and more than 50% of its wheat, supported by one of the world’s largest centrally managed irrigation systems spanning about 1 million hectares.
The brief also shows that Aj Jazirah remains central to Sudan’s path to recovery. With some agricultural production already resuming in 2025, restoring its role in national food security will require sustained investment and capacity building across the agricultural value chain, alongside immediate support for households and small businesses.
While life-saving for affected populations in the immediate term, humanitarian aid will not address these systemic failures or restore the commercial agriculture production desperately needed for country-wide food security.
