Preliminary Feasibility Study

Household Rotational Home Gardening Project for Food Security and Self-Reliance in Sudan

Introduction

Sudan is considered one of the richest African and Arab countries in agricultural resources. It possesses vast areas of fertile arable land, along with abundant water resources, most notably the River Nile and its tributaries, in addition to significant groundwater reserves that can be utilized at relatively low cost in many regions.

Despite these natural advantages, many Sudanese households are increasingly facing challenges in accessing sufficient food due to economic instability, conflict, displacement, and rising food prices. As a result, food insecurity has become a growing concern affecting large segments of the population.

In this context, home gardening emerges as a practical and sustainable solution that can contribute to improving food security, strengthening livelihoods, and enabling households to rely more on their own resources.

The proposed project focuses on utilizing available spaces within and around homes to produce vegetables and basic food crops using simple and sustainable methods. This approach ensures access to fresh and healthy food while reducing dependence on market purchases. It also encourages inter-household exchange of produce and allows surplus production to be sold for additional income, thereby improving household economic stability.

The project is based on a rotational funding model designed to ensure sustainability and gradual expansion. Beneficiary households contribute a small percentage of their income from surplus sales or provide seeds and seedlings to new households after achieving production. This mechanism enables the project to evolve into a self-sustaining community initiative capable of reaching increasing numbers of families and generating long-term developmental impact.

Investing in home gardening goes beyond food production; it also contributes to building more resilient communities, strengthening a culture of self-reliance and productivity, and optimizing the use of Sudan’s abundant natural resources.

1. Project Name

Rotational Home Gardening Project for Household Food Security and Self-Sufficiency in Sudan

2. Project Background

In light of economic challenges, rising food prices, and declining agricultural productivity in several regions, home gardening presents a practical and sustainable solution to strengthen household food security and improve living standards.

The project empowers households to produce a significant portion of their food needs—particularly vegetables—within their homes or surrounding spaces, while encouraging the exchange of produce and the sale of surplus in local markets.

A key feature of the project is its rotational financing mechanism, which ensures sustainability and expansion by reinvesting part of the returns to support additional households, thereby reducing long-term dependence on external funding.

3. Project Objectives

Overall Objective

To enhance food security and achieve self-sufficiency for Sudanese households through sustainable home gardening practices.

Specific Objectives

Enable households to produce fresh and healthy vegetables for home consumption.
Reduce household expenditure on food.
Utilize available residential spaces productively.
Promote a culture of sustainable home gardening.
Generate additional income through surplus production.
Establish a revolving fund to ensure continuity and expansion.
Strengthen community cooperation and knowledge sharing among households.

4. Target Group

Initial Phase

200 households.

Expansion Phases

Addition of 200 new households per funding cycle through the revolving fund mechanism.

5. Project Components

A. Training and Capacity Building

Fundamentals of home gardening
Seedling production
Irrigation management
Natural pest control methods
Seed saving and reuse
Marketing of home-grown produce

B. Provision of Production Inputs

Seeds and improved planting materials
Basic gardening tools
Organic soil enhancers
Simple irrigation systems where needed

C. Monitoring and Technical Support

Regular field visits
Support and advisory groups
Monitoring of production performance and challenges

D. Marketing and Exchange

Encouraging produce exchange among households
Organizing local community markets
Selling surplus produce in nearby markets

6. Rotational Mechanism

A household receives an initial agricultural support package.
The household begins production and achieves partial or full self-sufficiency.
Surplus production is sold in local markets.
The household contributes an agreed percentage of income (5–10%).
Contributions are collected into a revolving fund.
The fund is used to support new households.
The cycle repeats continuously to ensure expansion and sustainability.

7. Estimated Budget (Phase 1 – 200 Households)

Item	Estimated Cost (USD)
Training and capacity building	3,000
Seeds and planting materials	4,000
Agricultural tools	6,000
Organic inputs and soil improvement materials	2,000
Technical monitoring and supervision	2,000
Transportation and distribution	2,000
Administration and documentation	1,500
Contingency reserve	1,500
Total	22,000 USD

8. Expected Outcomes

For Households

Significant reduction in household food expenses
Improved access to fresh and nutritious vegetables
Additional income from surplus sales
Increased food self-reliance

For the Project

Continuous growth of the revolving fund
Local production and distribution of seedlings and seeds
Strengthened partnerships and community engagement

9. Financial Sustainability

The project relies on three main pillars of sustainability:

Contributions from beneficiary households after production begins
Revenue from the sale of seedlings and seeds produced within the project
Grants and external funding during expansion phases

Over time, the project is expected to transition from donor dependency to a fully community-sustained model.

10. Expected Impact

Short-Term Impact

Direct benefit to 200 households
Improved food security for approximately 1,000–1,400 individuals

Medium-Term Impact

Financing of an additional 200 households through revolving funds
Increased local vegetable production

Long-Term Impact

Establishment of a community-based home gardening network
Strengthened self-reliance and resilience
Contribution to poverty reduction and improved nutrition
Scalable model applicable across different regions of Sudan

11. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Number of beneficiary households
Percentage of households achieving partial or full self-sufficiency
Annual production volume
Quantity and value of surplus sold
Size of contributions to the revolving fund
Number of newly financed households

Proposed Slogan

“From every home a garden… from every garden food… from every household a supporter of another household.”

Conclusion

This document presents a preliminary proposal for a sustainable development project aimed at strengthening food security and improving livelihoods for Sudanese households through home gardening.

The proposal can be further developed into a full feasibility study including a detailed implementation plan, organizational structure, risk analysis, and a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework aligned with international donor standards.