IFAD in the Sudan  The Sudan has been a priority country for
IFAD since 1979. To ensure a balanced allocation of public
resources to the agricultural sector, IFAD's activities in the
country target areas in which there is a concentration of poor
rural people.  In the first half of the 1980s, IFAD's work in
the Sudan focused on rehabilitation of the irrigated farming
sector. Later, the emphasis shifted towards developing the
traditional rainfed farming sector. Today, the country programme
focuses on agriculture, livestock and forestry in rainfed areas,
targeting smallholder crop producers and subsistence farmers,
pastoralists and smallholder agropastoralists, rural women and
young people.  Although some operations have been hindered by
more than two decades of political strife and armed conflict in
the Sudan, they have demonstrated how appropriate incentives can
significantly improve agricultural production and consolidate
peace initiatives. IFAD has adapted its strategy to the conflict
situation, and its prog