Sudan farms lie barren as El Nino dries up Nile banks

Sudan's farmlands are parched and barren, as the Nile's banks dry up due to a powerful El Nino climate pattern. Farmers struggle to irrigate their crops, while others pray for rain over cracked earth. The country, already ravaged by civil war and a far-off conflict between Iran and the US, faces a triple crisis. El Nino delays crucial rains and lowers water levels in the Nile, impacting farmers across Sudan.

The UN's food and agriculture organization warns that this season is fraught with climate risks, driven by El Nino. Low Nile flow and below-average rains threaten southeastern Sudan and northwestern Ethiopia, where the Blue Nile originates. Water levels at the Grand Renaissance dam, which feeds the Nile, are 6 meters lower than last July.

Farmers in Gedaref state, on the Ethiopian border, witness their once-green fields now brown. Agriculture minister Ismat Qurashi advises farmers to plant drought-resistant crops and delay planting. Ahmed Othman, a veteran farmer, struggles to make a profit despite working tirelessly in the fields. Many farmers have abandoned their lands, with 65% already out of commission.