Hanadi El Dessougi (PHD) University of Khartoum Faculty of Agriculture Department of Crop Production Contents Geographical & Ecological Coverage Introduction Agricultural Sectors Existing Policies Level of Investment Key Areas for Research to fill Vital Gaps Approaches and Steps to Promote Sustainable Agricultural Production in Sudan Sudan is endowed with enormous and varied natural resources base that makes it one of three countries in the world together with Canada and Australia, that can achieve agricultural production levels sufficient to feed their population and contribute to reducing the nutrition gab in the world. The cultivable area in Sudan is estimated as 84 million ha of which only about 20% is utilized. About 80% of the people are engaged in agricultural production. This makes millions of people in the country directly dependent on natural resources for their livelihood and employment. Sudan is one of the largest countries in Africa (1.88 million km 2 ), is surrounded by six countries and enjoys more than 750 km of coastline on the Red Sea. Climate The climate of the Sudan is predominantly tropical and continental, at the Red Sea area prevails Mediterranean climate. Geographical Coverage Average rainfall varies from less than 25 mm in the north to 1500 mm in the south, between July-September. Rainfall is very erratic and annual variations are very high. Topography is generally flat, with a gentle northward slope. The major highland areas include Jebel Marra in the west (3100 m), Mount Kingeti (3200 m), the Red Sea Hills ( m), and Nuba Mountains (1450 m). Mean daily temperatures vary from a maximum of more than 40C in the north to a minimum of 6C in Jebel Marra in the west. Agro - ecological zones Sudan can be divided into six agro-ecological zones: Desert; Semi-Desert; Low and High Rainfall Savannah; Flood Zone; and Mountain Zone. The vegetation increases in richness from north to south. Soils Vary from heavy clay soils in the central plains to sand in the north and west, with a few mountainous areas in the south, east and west. Water Resources Total water resource in Sudan amounts to approximately billion m 3 per annum depending on rainfall; the water content of the valleys; flood level of the Blue Nile and its tributaries and storage capacity in the water dams. Natural Rangeland The natural grazing resources cover about 116 million hectares occupying the ecological zones that range from the desert in the extreme north to the high rainfall woodland Savanna in the south. Biodiversity Records indicate the presence of: 3132 species of flowering plants 265 species of mammals 938 bird species 106 fresh water-fish species. 91 Reptiles species and three endemic amphibian species Livestock Sector This sector includes various systems: Nomadic; Transhumant; Sedentary; Sedentary Irrigated CropLivestock systems; Ranching; Feedlot operations; and Peri-urban backyard livestock production. Constraints Each of these systems is invariably constrained by one or more of the following factors: Poor veterinary services and husbandry; seasonal nutritional deficiencies and prevalence of diseases; long walking distances; overgrazing and water shortages; expansion of agriculture into traditional grazing land causing conflicts between transhumant and settled farmers; poor integration of livestock in crop rotation; difficulty of processing and marketing animal products; lack of research; extension as well as infrastructure such as roads; education; health services and livestock markets. Forest Sector Total area is ca. 63 million ha (65% are in the southern region whereas the remaining 35% are in the northern region). Wood for fuel is the major forest product. Forest resources also provide wood for building materials, fencing and locally made furniture. Gum Arabic is also a major product and Sudan produces 80% of the world production. Total annual wood removals from Sudan forests (about 15 million m 3 ) exceeds the allowable limit by about 5 million m 3 The regular drought spells; uncontrolled cutting of forests for various purposes; fires due to negligence or unsettlement because of the civil war; have led to a complete or almost a complete stop for rehabilitation of destroyed forests or replanting of damaged and affected ones according to a scientific and developmental plan. Constrains Crop Production Systems The Rain fed sector: represents 18% of the total cultivable area. Generally cultivation is at subsistence level; no use of inputs and crop yields are very low, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Traditional Rain-fed Sector: covers about 9 million hectares and the dominating practice is shifting cultivation as: homestead cultivation; cultivation in mud valleys; terrace cultivation. Main sectors are as follows : Semi-mechanized Rain-fed Sector: covers about 6 million ha, divided into large agricultural schemes. Irrigated Sector: (Traditional and Modern) Traditional irrigated sector: Directed Flooding: (Gash Delta); Non-Directed Flooding (Tokar Delta); Flood Irrigation; Valley cultivation; Basin cultivation and Seasonal and Permanent Islands The modern irrigated sector: (about 1.8 million ha) mainly large agricultural schemes e.g. Gezira Agric. Scheme, Rahad; Alsuki and the Sugar cane production schemes e.g. Kenana; Sinar; White Nile etc. The intense pressure and demand on the available resources have led to severe land degradation and desertification, that poses a real constrain to achieving sustainable agricultural development. Malpractices such as overgrazing; deforestation; cultivation of marginal lands; irrational use of heavy machinery and unplanned forest removal have led to continuous over mining of the land resources and degradation exemplified by gully and sheet erosion; exhausted soils; water-logging; over-grazing and fire damage. Constraints In addition the civil war in the south of Sudan that lasted for almost 50 years has created very difficult socio-economic conditions and caused internal and regional migrations and displacement of people from war-affected areas. Moreover, Sudan suffers from serious brain-drain that has impacted negatively on the technological base; scientific know- how; technical and educational capacity leading to substantial capacity building requirements. Thus multiple factors of climatic, socioeconomic and irrational land use have contributed greatly to the current state of land degradation and low agricultural productivity and resulted in various negative impacts e.g.: socio-economic livelihoods; decline of land productivity; food production shortage; resource based conflicts; decline in environmental quality; decline of rangelands and pastoral resources; shifting of sand dunes etc. Existing policies The current policies, especially in the agricultural sector, are increasing land degradation and leading to impoverishment of the rural communities manifested in the expansion of crop cultivation even in marginal areas at the expense of forests and rangeland, in addition to crucial issues of land tenure and land use. Also current levels of governance (local, state and federal) have generally adverse effects on the countrys natural resource base. The National Comprehensive Strategy NCS (1992 2002) has laid, for the first time, an environmental strategy for Sudan. The NCS has stipulated that the environmental issues must be an integral part of the all-developmental activities. The 25-year National Strategic Plan (NSP) links desertification and land degradation with poverty, food security and conservation of the environment. The Government of Sudan has prepared an Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (IPRSP), with technical assistance from the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). However, success or otherwise of such policies and recommendations requires not only the acquiescence but the active co-operation of the local people. Unless a genuine attempt is made to understand the needs and attitudes of the local people, and that local and regional government officials and leaders are convinced of the validity of these constraint on people's traditional courses of action, no policies concerned with local natural resources or sustainable agriculture can be of value. Level of investments Large investments are being made by the Sudan Government in increasing the water storage capacities of major dams e.g. by heightening Roseires Dam functioning at only 60% of its storage capacity because of silt accumulation in the dam lake. Heavy investments by the Government are also made for construction of new dams e.g. Marawi Dam and Kajbar Dam. This means full utilization of Sudans share of the Nile water; installing additional storage capacity for irrigation projects i.e. the possibility of cultivating millions of hectares of fertile land. The Government has also invested heavily in the Green Revolution in Sudan, which failed for various reasons of mismanagement; lack of involvement of targeted population; wrong policies etc. The Government has launched another such green revolution aiming at doubling both agricultural and animal production, with special focus on strategic crops e.g. wheat and on sustainable agricultural production. improved varieties; seed production; cultural practices; integrated crop/livestock production systems; improved crop rotations; sustainable land use systems. Some key areas for research to fill vital gaps include: describe and evaluate sustainability of existing agricultural systems, define constraints and develop appropriate methods to alleviate them, studies on land tenure systems and their role for optimum utilization of natural resources. Socio economic Farming systems interactions between trees and crops, use of trees and ground cover to improve soil-water status and soil organic matter content. efficient utilization of crop residues, animal manure etc. to improve soil chemical and physical properties; increase crop production; efficient nutrient cycling and integrated resource management. Agro-forestry Organic Farming more research on underground water to ascertain the actual figures for the reserve and the replenishment rate; efficient water harvesting techniques and evaluation of traditional irrigation systems. performance of indigenous breeds; optimum nutrition; impact and costs of control of diseases; assessment of efficient new management systems and optimum watering; improved processing of animal products. Water Management Animal Husbandry Approaches and steps to promote sustainable agricultural production in Sudan Monitoring and documentation of any successful projects; experiences and/or practices in agriculture; identifying gaps constraints etc. Raising awareness at all levels and all involved stakeholders (farming communities; civil societies; NGOs; Government etc.) Support and strengthen research in the areas of sustainable development and environmental conservation. Capacity building and training to support involved institutions; academics; researchers; NGOs; public organizations; land committees; community based organizations; women and youth organizations in marginal environments. Develop sound Pilot Projects addressing agricultural issues in a scientific; integrated and participatory approaches. Establish partnerships between various stakeholders (Government and its various entities; natural resources users; NGOs; private sector etc). Develop mechanisms to ensure the commitment and active participation of the natural resource users and local communities (farmers; herders; community associations etc.). Mobilize financial resources nationally and internationally. Reform policies and legislations (land use; tenure; incentives; subsidies etc.). Establish National, regional and international institutional linkages.