Sudan Farms Lie Barren as El Nino Leaves Nile Banks Dry

Khartoum, Sudan – Farmland across Sudan lies barren as the powerful El Nino climate pattern intensifies a devastating agricultural crisis, leaving Nile riverbanks dry and farmers praying for rain. The nation, already grappling with a severe hunger crisis fueled by a protracted internal conflict, now faces diminished crop yields due to erratic weather patterns.

Farmers along the Nile report critically low water levels, with islands appearing in the river that are normally submerged by July. Al-Tigani Fadlallah, a farmer near Khartoum, pointed to such an island as a grim omen for his parched crops. This phenomenon is widespread, from northern fields near Egypt to areas bordering Ethiopia, where the Blue Nile originates. The United Nations' food and agriculture organization confirms the season is unfolding under heightened climate risk, marked by delayed and below-average rainfall, and prolonged dry spells.

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The water usually covers it by July, but you can see it even now.

This environmental hardship is layered upon existing challenges. The conflict between Sudan's army and rival paramilitaries, which began in April 2023, has caused immense loss of life and pushed millions into severe hunger. Furthermore, global geopolitical tensions, particularly between Iran and the United States, have disrupted fuel and fertilizer supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, driving up costs for farmers.

Climate scientist Elfatih Eltahir from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology highlights the strong correlation between El Nino and low Nile flow, predicting a high probability of drought in southeastern Sudan and northwestern Ethiopia when El Nino begins in late spring, as it did this year. Data from Germany's University of Tubingen shows water levels at the Grand Renaissance dam on the Blue Nile were six meters lower in July 2026 compared to the previous year. Eltahir emphasizes the need for greater transparency and cooperation among Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan regarding water resource management, especially as climate change increases the frequency of extreme weather events. Regional forecasts predict below-average rainfall for the remainder of the season, painting a bleak picture for Sudan's agricultural future.

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more transparency and cooperation