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 …