|
|
Agriculture
Though the oil sector has emerged as a major force within Sudan's economy, the major source of growth for Sudan's economy has always been and is likely to continue being the agriculture sector. Sudan is the largest country in Africa, 25 per cent of the land is forested and 35 per cent is arable.
The agricultural sector in Sudan has generally been the main source of livelihood in the country. Agricultural products have traditionally accounted for around 95 per cent of Sudan's exports. Industry has mostly been agriculture-based, historically accounting for around 40 per cent of Sudan's gross domestic product (GDP). |
Despite the enormous resources the country has at hand, Sudan's agricultural sector has performed a long way below its potential. The sector represents a mixture of subsistence farming and the production of crops for export. Crop cultivation has traditionally been divided between a modern, market-oriented sector comprising mechanised, large-scale irrigated and rainfed farming (mainly in central Sudan), while subsistence farming follows traditional practices carried out in parts of the country where rainfall or other water sources were sufficient for cultivation.
Investment has been made over the years in mechanised, irrigated and rainfed cultivation, with their combined areas accounting for roughly two-thirds of Sudan's cultivated land. Early emphasis on cotton growing on irrigated land has decreased; although it remains the most important crop in Sudan, peanuts, wheat and sugarcane have become major crops, with large amounts of sesame also being grown. Rainfed mechanised farming has continued to produce most sorghum and short-fiber cotton, while increased production in both sectors has meant increased domestic supplies and greater export potential. |
The raising of livestock has continued in the traditional sector. With raising providing employment opportunities for so many people, modernisation proposals have been based on improving existing practices and marketing for export, as opposed to adopting modern ranching methods, which require fewer workers. Livestock contributes 45 per cent of total agricultural production.
Fishing has traditionally been carried out by the traditional sector for subsistence. An unknown number of smaller operations have also used the country's reservoirs in the more populated central region and the rivers to catch fish for sale locally and in nearby urban centres. |
|
|
The forestry subsector comprises both the traditional gathering of firewood and producers of charcoal - the main sources of fuel for homes and some industry in urban areas - and the modern publically owned timber and sawmilling industry. Gum Arabic is also one of Sudan's biggest agricultural exports, second only to cotton, amounting to around 11 per cent.
However, the lack of investment in agricultural technologies and development as well as widespread urban migration have all served to reduce Sudan's agricultural potential. It is in this context that the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is seeking to put in place a more effective agricultural development and investment strategy. |
