‘Livestock destroy harvest in Kutum’: North Darfur farmers

09/11/2014 18:49

Farmers in villages in Kutum locality in North Darfur reported damage and destruction of their crops by grazing livestock of militant herders. The pro-government militant herders let their animals graze on the farmlands by force of arms, one of the farmers revealed to Radio Dabanga. Since last Monday, Beri, Anya, Nasonga, Karki, and Kinein, villages east of Kutum town, have witnessed such grazing, he said. The farmer added that they informed the authorities of Kutum and Gubba about the militant herders, but they did not move to protect the farms. He estimated the damage and destruction of the crops at thousands of Sudanese pounds. Since 5 August, farmers and pastoralists in Kutum decided to form a joint committee that conducted patrols in order to protect the farmlands in the planting season. An Omda in Kutum reported that anyone who released his livestock on the lands had to pay a fine. Similar decisions were made with the forming of a committee in Saraf Umra locality on 9 October. It had to secure crops on farms, control the movement of herders in the locality, monitor the pastoralists’ grazing routes, and prevent early grazing. Offenders were fined with a maximum of SDG2,000 ($350) or one month’s imprisonment. After Sudan’s rainy season during the summer months, the harvest season starts in October or November, and lasts until January. The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS Net) reported that the staple food crops, millet and sorghum, of this harvest period have enjoyed above-average rainfall during the last rainy season in most parts of Sudan. In its Food Security Outlook in September, the network did not expect above-average harvests in the Darfur region and rebel-held South Kordofan areas, owing to insecurity and displacement. File photo: Farmers of a local community in El Fasher during a drought (Albert González Farran/Unamid) Related: ‘Herders destroy harvest season’: Darfur farmers (2 November 2014) Improved harvest expected in Sudan: UN food agency (20 October 2014)

Farmers in villages in Kutum locality in North Darfur reported damage and destruction of their crops by grazing livestock of militant herders.

The pro-government militant herders let their animals graze on the farmlands by force of arms, one of the farmers revealed to Radio Dabanga. Since last Monday, Beri, Anya, Nasonga, Karki, and Kinein, villages east of Kutum town, have witnessed such grazing, he said.

The farmer added that they informed the authorities of Kutum and Gubba about the militant herders, but they did not move to protect the farms. He estimated the damage and destruction of the crops at thousands of Sudanese pounds.

Since 5 August, farmers and pastoralists in Kutum decided to form a joint committee that conducted patrols in order to protect the farmlands in the planting season. An Omda in Kutum reported that anyone who released his livestock on the lands had to pay a fine. Similar decisions were made with the forming of a committee in Saraf Umra locality on 9 October. It had to secure crops on farms, control the movement of herders in the locality, monitor the pastoralists’ grazing routes, and prevent early grazing. Offenders were fined with a maximum of SDG2,000 ($350) or one month’s imprisonment.

After Sudan’s rainy season during the summer months, the harvest season starts in October or November, and lasts until January. The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS Net) reported that the staple food crops, millet and sorghum, of this harvest period have enjoyed above-average rainfall during the last rainy season in most parts of Sudan. In its Food Security Outlook in September, the network did not expect above-average harvests in the Darfur region and rebel-held South Kordofan areas, owing to insecurity and displacement.

File photo: Farmers of a local community in El Fasher during a drought (Albert González Farran/Unamid)

Related:

‘Herders destroy harvest season’: Darfur farmers (2 November 2014)

Improved harvest expected in Sudan: UN food agency (20 October 2014)