Feeding the future: Strengthening livestock and livelihoods in Kassala

Kassala State is rich in livestock, with millions of cattle and poultry supporting local livelihoods. Yet, compounding challenges, including conflict and displacement, have made it harder for communities to thrive. Many producers face limited access to resources and markets, creating an urgent need for support.

The Livestock-Food Systems Development (LFSD) project worked to improve livestock productivity and raise incomes in Kassala State by strengthening the dairy, poultry, and meat value chains. By addressing practical challenges and creating space for greater participation by women and youth, the project helped build a more reliable market system, develop local skills, and improve food security and nutrition. Step by step, we helped lay the foundation for a more resilient and inclusive livestock sector that offers real opportunity for communities across the region.

Critical needs, transformative potential

Kassala State is home to one of Sudan’s largest livestock populations, with around 8.7 million cattle and one million poultry. Nearly half of the local pastoralists depend entirely on livestock for their livelihoods. Yet, at the same time, the region faces tough economic challenges, made worse by recent conflicts and an influx of over 500,000 internally displaced people. Many livestock producers struggle to access key resources, market information, and veterinary care. These obstacles keep productivity low and contribute to food insecurity and limited income. It’s clear that focused support is urgently needed to help these communities build resilience and thrive.

Strengthening water access and building community resilience

With support from the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), this project focused on enhancing the livelihoods and resilience of vulnerable communities in Kassala. It established producer cooperatives and strengthened their capacity to develop sustainable dairy, meat, and poultry value chains. These joint cooperatives have brought together farmers and pastoralists, strongly focusing on empowering women and youth.

By fostering cooperative structures and providing targeted training, we aimed to create a sustainable agricultural ecosystem that boosts productivity and resilience. To make this possible, we worked on:

• Facilitating the establishment of joint cooperatives for farmers and pastoralists to facilitate resource sharing and collective marketing.
• Improving herd health and livestock productivity by facilitating access to veterinary services, animal health training, and forage production techniques, while also building the capacity of community animal health workers to deliver effective care.
• Promoting women’s participation in the dairy and livestock sectors through targeted training, resource access, and establishing women-managed cooperatives.
• Fostering financial inclusion by linking producer organisations to microfinance institutions and establishing revolving funds for equipment and breed improvement.
• Promoting gender equity by ensuring the active participation of women and youth in all aspects of the value chain development.
• Developing and implementing a digital information system to streamline market access, support decision-making, and enhance communication between producers and service providers.
• Improving household nutrition by raising awareness and providing training on child nutrition and the importance of animal-based food sources for vulnerable populations.