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Agriculture in Sudan
Agriculture and livestock breeding are the primary sources of livelihood in Sudan, accounting for more than 61% of the working population in the early 1990s. Sudan is considered one of the three largest countries in Africa by area and one of the world's most vital nations regarding the availability of water and arable land. Nearly one-third of its total area of 1,886,068 square kilometers (728,215 square miles) is suitable for cultivation, establishing it as a definitive global "food basket."
In 1998, the area of arable land was estimated at approximately 16,900,000 hectares (41.8 million acres). Out of this, about 1.9 million hectares (4.7 million acres) consist of irrigated land, primarily located along the banks of the Nile and other rivers in the north.
Cotton is the primary export crop. Sudan is also one of the world's largest producers of sesame, ranking third after India and China, and is among the leading global producers of sorghum (Dura).
Types of Agriculture in Sudan
There are four main types of agriculture in Sudan, classified based on the irrigation method or production style:
- Rain-fed Agriculture: Depends on rainfall and covers about 25% of the cultivated area.
- Irrigated Agriculture: Utilizes artificial irrigation (25%) from the Nile and its tributaries. This is further divided into:
- Gravity Irrigation: Water sourced from dams and reservoirs.
- Pump Irrigation: Using pumps to draw water from the river.
- Flood Irrigation: Utilizing land flooded by seasonal overflows, such as in the Gash River Delta.
- Mechanized Agriculture: Comprising 12% of the area, where machinery is used in production processes.
- Traditional Agriculture: Practiced by locals on the outskirts of villages and rural areas.
Dams
The dams currently providing gravity irrigation water are: the Roseires Dam, Sennar Dam, Merowe Dam, and Khashm el-Girba Dam. Several dam projects are under implementation, such as the Upper Atbara and Setit Dam Complex in the Rumela region on the Atbara River and Burdana on the Setit River (in Kassala and Gedaref states, respectively). These aim to add one million acres of arable land and generate 320 MW of electricity. Other projects include the Shereyk and Kajbar dams in the River Nile and Northern states.
Soil in Sudan
The plains of Sudan consist of various soil types, the most important being:
- Sandy Soil: Located in the desert and semi-desert regions of northern and western Sudan. It is fragile with low fertility, used for growing millet, peanuts, sesame, and hibiscus (karkade). It also provides important grazing land for camels, sheep, and goats.
- Clay Soil: Found in central and eastern Sudan. These represent the most important areas for cotton cultivation and mechanized rain-fed farming. They are also a vital source of forest products, particularly firewood and Gum Arabic. Most of Sudan's sorghum, the main food crop, is grown in this soil.
Arable Lands of Sudan
- Desert Lands: Estimated at 668,000 km², consisting of hills, rocks, and sand. Annual rainfall is less than 100 mm. Economic activity is limited to camel and goat herding, with irrigated farming practiced in areas adjacent to the Nile.
- Semi-Desert Lands: Covering about 289,000 km², consisting of rocks and eroded surfaces. Rainfall ranges between 100 and 225 mm per year. Activities include grazing and the cultivation of drought-resistant crops like millet.
- Coastal Lands: Located along the Red Sea coast, covering about 68 km². It consists of plains and hills with winter rains, used for livestock grazing.
- Qoz Lands: Areas characterized by sand dunes, covering about 240,000 km². Economic activities include animal grazing and rain-fed or mixed farming.
- Central Clay Plains: Covering approximately 119,500 km². Known for "cracking" clay soil, these are the pillars of agricultural production in Sudan, supporting irrigated and rain-fed farming as well as livestock.
- Southern Clay Plains: Stretching across 247,000 km. Most of this land is prone to flooding by the Nile and is covered in forests. It supports irrigated and rain-fed agriculture and grazing.
- Southeastern Lands: Estimated at 104,500 km². Consists of mountains, hills, plains, and swamps. Rainfall ranges from 600 to 1500 mm. Coffee, tea, fruit, and timber are grown here, alongside animal grazing.
- Mountainous Lands: Includes the Jebel Marra lands, rising 1,000 meters above sea level across 29,000 km². Rainfall is between 600 and 1,000 mm. It has a Mediterranean climate with cool, rainy winters, allowing for crops not grown elsewhere in Sudan, such as strawberries and apples.
- Nuba Mountains: Consists of several disconnected hills amidst clay plains, covering 65,000 km². Suitable for mechanized agricultural production and grazing.
Climatic Regions
Sudan is a vast country extending between latitudes 3° – 23° N and longitudes 22° – 39° E. The total area of 600 million acres is distributed as follows:
- Arable Land: Approximately 200 million acres (85 million hectares).
- Natural Pastures and Forests: 279 million acres.
- Remaining Area: Deserts, swamps, and surface water.
The climatic regions are divided as follows:
- Desert Zone (North of Lat 16° N): Covers 29% of the area. Rainfall is rare; agriculture is restricted to the Nile banks using pumps and basin irrigation. Common crops include dates, wheat, legumes, vegetables, fruits, and spices.
- Semi-Desert Zone (Lat 14°–16° N): Covers 20% of the area. Rainfall varies (75–300 mm). It has scarce vegetation and is prone to drought and desertification; it is suitable for nomadic grazing.
- Poor Savanna (Lat 12°–14° N): Covers 25% of the area. Summer rains decrease northward. Suitable for grazing camels, goats, and sheep. Sorghum, millet, peanuts, sunflowers, and hibiscus are grown when rain is available.
- Rich Savanna (Lat 10°–12° N): Covers 14% of the area. Rainfall ranges from 400 to 800 mm. Crops include sorghum, peanuts, sunflowers, and cotton.
- Rich Savanna (High Rainfall) (Lat 4.40°–8.30° N): Covers 8% of the area. Heavy summer rains (800–1500 mm) support dense vegetation. It is suitable for bananas, tropical fruits, vegetables, and timber (producing about 50% of Sudan's wood).
