When South Sudan became an independent state in July 2011, northern Sudan lost most of its oil fields to its new neighbouring country.

In an effort to revive the country's struggling economy, the Sudanese government has been selling or leasing vast swaths of fertile land to foreign investors.

But in areas where agricultural land is the basic source of living for people, there is much anger over what farmers say is a government policy that promotes foreign land grabs, favouritism, and exploitation.

Al Jazeera's Mohamed Vall reports from al-Shamanlya, Sudan.