Wheat Research and Production

in the Sudan

Current Status and Trends

بسم اهلل الرحمن الرحيم

• Increasing Population and

• Urbanization lead to

• Increasing Consumption Rate creating

• A gab

Introduction

15

25

35

45

55

65

75

85

95

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

Avg.1961-65

Avg.1966-70

Avg.1971-75

Avg.1976-80

Avg.1981-85

Avg.1986-90

Avg.1991-95

Avg.1996-00

Avg.2001-05

Avg.2006-10

% s

uff

ice

incy

Tho

usa

nd

To

ns

Five Year Average Periods

Self-sufficeincy Consumption Local Production Imports

More than 90% sufficiency occurred G

AB

• Filling the gab necessitates

• Increased production through,

1. Horizontal expansion and

2. Increased productivity per unit area

Introduction

• Wheat areas increased from less than 27.5 thousand

ha in the early 60s to 360 thousand ha in the 90s.

• Areas declined during 2000–05 due to the

unavailability of credits and late provision of inputs

• During 2006-10 areas increased to around 277

thousand ha as a result of encouraging production

policies and the expansion into new areas.

Introduction – Acreage

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Avg.1961-65

Avg.1966-70

Avg.1971-75

Avg.1976-80

Avg.1981-85

Avg.1986-90

Avg.19891-95

Avg.1996-00

Avg.2000-05

Avg.2006-10

Har

vest

ed

Are

a (T

ho

usa

nd

ha)

Five Years Average

Acreage Development

Wheat Research in Sudan

The activities of the Wheat Research Program at the

Agricultural Research Corporation (ARC - Sudan),

target increasing productivity per unit area

through:

1. Genetic improvement and variety development

2. Crop management options

3. Technology transfer

for hot dry irrigated environment

The wheat research program has released

more than 15 improved wheat varieties

, in close collaboration with international

research organizations such as CIMMYT

and ICARDA

Research: Genetic Improvement

y = 30.249x + 2638.6

R2 = 0.679*

2000

2200

2400

2600

2800

3000

3200

3400

3600

3800

0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33

Years since 1960

Gra

in y

ield

(k

g/h

a)

Genetic Improvement

Genetic Improvement

• the program also provided a set of

improved production technological

packages

• Thus, contributing to increased

productivity per unit area.

Research: Management Practices

1.00

1.20

1.40

1.60

1.80

2.00

2.20

2.40

2.60

Avg.1961-65

Avg.1966-70

Avg.1971-75

Avg.1976-80

Avg.1981-85

Avg.1986-90

Avg.19891-95

Avg.1996-00

Avg.2000-05

Avg.2006-10

Gra

in Y

ield

(t/

ha)

Five Year Average

• Despite the release of the improved varieties

and the production technologies, a noticeable

gab is reported between Research and

Farmers fields…

• ARC is playing an import role in bridging this

gab through efficient technology transfer (e.g.

field days, farmers’ field schools … etc )

Research: Technology Transfer

Technology Transfer

Technology Transfer

Wheat Production Areas in Sudan

• Northern State (Traditional)

• River Nile State

• Gezira State (Gezira Scheme) – (non-traditional)

• Kasala State (New Halfa Scheme) - (non-

traditional)

• White Nile State. (non-traditional)

Northern State

Wheat Production Areas

Environmental Constraints

The major constrains limiting wheat production in

Sudan are mainly Heat and moisture stresses

and…

• Low soil fertility

• Weeds and aphid infestations.

• Stem rust in the eastern parts of the Sudan

Northern State 20.8°C

River Nile 24.3°C

Gezira - 28.9°C

Temperature variation within Sudan

average of the growing season

Socio-economic Constraints

• Lack of timely availability of credit funds

• Unavailability of production inputs

• Lack of clear sustainable strategic production

and marketing policies.

• Week technology transfer.

Seed System

• Until early 1990s: National Seed Administration

was the main seed production body.

• Afterwards: ARC is responsible for the production

of the Foundation seed categories.

• The certified seed production is assigned to firms

shared between government and private sector.

Research Prospective

The program future activities are mainly to :

• Continue addressing the main production

constraints related to climate change in collaboration

with international organizations.

• Generation of technologies suitable for the new

expansions in the marginal dry areas.

• Dissemination of generated technologies.

Encouraging Policies

Recent Production Policies…

• predetermined attractive wheat prices,

• provision of production inputs, and

• expansion into new areas

Would lead to increased wheat production

Collaborative Activities

• ARC has a long history of collaboration with regional and international organizations such as CIMMYT and ICARDA

• Some ongoing regional projects are contributing to the dissemination of improved technologies such as (EFSAC) (Improving the Livelihood of Rural Communities in

Dry Areas)

Encouraging results have been achieved

Site P.F* (t/ha) N.F* (t/ha) %Increase

range

Northern State 4.09 2.69 37-72

Gezira

Scheme 3.23 1.92 64-83

Sudan 3.71 2.35 58

Percent increase in participating farmers’

Fields compared to non-participating Farmers

EFSAC - SUDAN

Research Outputs

Dissemination Of Technologies

Encouraging Stable Policies

+

+

Sudan could realize self-sufficiency and

beyond…

If pieces are put together …