Al-Gadharef, Aug. 10, 2026 (SUNA) – Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation Professor Ismat Gurashi has announced plans to cultivate 31 million feddans with various agricultural crops across Sudan during this year’s summer agricultural season, affirming the Agricultural Bank’s capacity to provide financing for all stages of the season. In a statement to SUNA at the conclusion of his visit to Al-Gadharef State on Monday, the minister said North Kordofan State is expected to re-enter the production cycle this year, with 7.5 million feddans targeted for cultivation in Al-Gadharef State in accordance with the indicative plan. The minister affirmed the government’s highest-level attention to agriculture and production by providing the necessary financing for all stages of the farming process. He revealed that 500 billion Sudanese pounds had been allocated to finance the first phase of agricultural operations, compared with 17 billion pounds last year. Regarding the El Niño phenomenon and rainfall forecasts, the minister said coordination was underway with the Early Warning Unit and the Agricultural Research Corporation to encourage farmers to cultivate short-season, drought-resistant crops.BH/BH