Suki, June 16, 2026 (SUNA) — Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation Professor Ismat Gurashi inspected the operational status of the pumping station at Al-Suki Agricultural Scheme and the pumps of the Al-Wifaq Agricultural Project on Tuesday, accompanied by Sennar State Wali Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Al-Zubair Hassan Al-Sayid and the state’s Director General of the Ministry of Production and Economic Resources. The Minister reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to supporting irrigated agricultural schemes, commending the efforts undertaken to rehabilitate the pumping facilities of both Al-Suki and Al-Wifaq agricultural projects. He also praised the contributions of the Ministry of Finance and development partners in supporting and rehabilitating the pumping stations. He further lauded the efforts of the Director of Al-Suki Agricultural Authority, Engineer Salah Sharif Tambal, reaffirming the ministry’s full commitment to supporting Al-Suki Agricultural Scheme and strengthening its role in increasing production and productivity. The Minister said the government’s policy focuses on developing the agricultural sector as a key pillar of the national economy, stressing efforts to address financing challenges and ensure the provision of agricultural inputs, including diesel fuel, seeds, and fertilizers. He called on the Ministry of Energy to address electricity supply challenges to ensure the stability of irrigation operations, noting that current indicators point to a successful agricultural season that would positively impact farmers and agricultural output. For his part, Sennar State Wali Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Al-Zubair Hassan Al-Sayid affirmed that agriculture ranks among the top priorities of the state government after security, stressing his administration’s commitment to providing the support necessary for a successful agricultural season. Meanwhile, Agricultural Bank Director General Salah Abdelrahim announced the bank’s commitment to financing farmers, describing agriculture as the real gateway to reviving the national economy. He reaffirmed the bank’s adherence to the policy directives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation and instructed the Agricultural Bank’s Sennar State branch to provide the necessary financing to farmers. The Director General of Sennar State’s Ministry of Production and Economic Resources, Engineer Nour-Eddin Daoud Musa, said the rehabilitation of Al-Suki Agricultural Authority’s pumping stations and those of Al-Wifaq Project marks a strong start to the 2026 agricultural season. He called for the adoption of modern technologies, the provision of full financing for various crops, and urged farmers to form agricultural cooperatives. The Director of Suki Agricultural Authority, Dr. Salah Sharif Tambal, commended the Irrigation Directorate’s efforts in rehabilitating the station and called for the allocation of a dedicated hotline for the Suki pumping station. He also stressed the importance of providing early financing to farmers and revealed a number of future projects planned by the authority, including a livestock production project and a feed manufacturing plant. The Executive Director of East Sennar Locality, Al-Rashid Ahmed Al-Badawi, said the operation of the Suki Agricultural Authority’s pumping station marks an important step toward ensuring a successful agricultural season and achieving production stability in the area. The Minister and his accompanying delegation, along with the Wali and members of the state government, also inspected the Central Sector sawmills in Al-Suki town, which had sustained extensive damage in recent years. He commended the efforts of the National Forests Corporation in rehabilitating and restoring their operations. The Minister reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to the forestry sector as an important economic resource, stressing the need to develop the sector and enhance its contribution to supporting the national economy.BH/BH