The ‘Faki Manga’ Equation in Numbers: How Can the Horticultural Sector Rescue Sudan’s Balance of Payments?

Dr Al-Haitham Al-Kindi Yousif Historically, Sudan’s economy has been regarded primarily as an agricultural economy, with agricultural exports such as sesame, groundnuts, gum arabic and livestock accounting for the largest share of non-oil exports in the past, and later of non-gold exports. These products typically account for between 15 and 20 per cent of total exports, with the share rising or falling depending on the country’s circumstances. Within this agricultural economy, the horticultural sector — fruit and vegetables — stands out as particularly promising. If properly developed and directed, it could become a major pillar of monetary stability, help curb the depreciation of the Sudanese pound and contribute to reducing the country’s chronic balance-of-payments deficit.