Support farmers and fight poverty in Sudan

In recent months, NEF has expanded its work to restore acacia tree forests in Sudan and help more farmers who harvest gum arabic from the trees. Acacia trees are a vital source of income for families in Sudan. The trees also help to stabilize the soil and to prevent increasing desertification.

With gifts from you and other Global Giving donors, 520 additional Sudanese farmers are receiving technical support and financial aid to improve their production.

Our efforts will also increase the farmers’ income. This will allow farmers to better provide for their families, as well as re-invest in their businesses and struggling communities. 

Here’s how NEF is helping the 520 farmers:

• Distributing seeds. While seeds are plentiful in places like the U.S., they are a precious commodity across much of Africa. NEF is stepping in to fill the supply gap by providing 150 tree seeds to each farmer.
• Providing training. We offer the farmers a full range of technical support, including how to determine the best locations to plant, instruction in more efficient harvesting techniques, and guidance in improved storage of the gum arabic (so it remains a high quality until it reaches the market).
• Offering follow-up support. We continue to offer technical support to the farmers on an ongoing basis.

The participating farmers are all members of Gum Arabic Producer Associations. These associations are comparable to farmer cooperatives in the U.S. – they’re a way for farmers to organize, support each other, and have a greater impact together than any one single farmer could on his/her own.

In this expansion, we’re working with four new producer associations – so all of the 520 farmers are receiving supplies and training from NEF for the first time. 

We are also continuing to offer follow-up support to other farmers who we’ve worked with over the past two years.

Sudan is a complicated place to operate. Our local partners are essential to make this work possible. We’re grateful to partner with the National Forestry Corporation and the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Wealth in North Kordofan.

Your support to vulnerable gum arabic farmers in North Kordofan helps build peace and promote sustainable livelihoods in Sudan. Thank you!