Resources Utilization in Traditional Rain-Fed Agriculture in Sudan A Case Study of Shiekan Rural Area North Kordofan State

Abstract

Abstract This study is solely on traditional Rain-fedagriculture, taking Shiekan rural area ofNor1hern Kordofan state as a case study . The major theme ofthe present study is to examine the economic rationale of traditional farmers in the utilization ofresources at their disposal and the influence of technical and luunan factors on the decision of farmers in Shiekan rural area . The present study focussed on identifying the production decisions that farmers make; and identity factors which influence these decisions and determine the extend to which decisions change over the agriculture season . The production decisions include the following : (l) crops planted, area planted and allocation ofarea to crops; (2) planting dates for various crops; (3)methods ofplanting, rotations followed and varieties grown; (4) utilization ofinputs other than labor, and labor utilization . Endogenous and Exogenous factors influencing these decisions are carried out mainly to determine the profitability and viability of resources utilization in traditional agriculture and its sustainability . The study adopted descriptive, comparative and an analytical methodological approach to describe, compare and analyze the farming system in the study area . Tabular analysis, labor and land profiles are used to describe the system and provide a better understanding ofthe production process . Representative sample of I00 household farmers was selected and interviewed during the I998/9‘) season . Six mouths ofrcsidenee were devoted to gathering systematic data through questionnaire . The study revealed that, land ownership is still a diflicult problem in the area; the distribution oflandtendsto be distorted in favor ofa minority ofOmda, Shiekh and their relatives . The principal effect of the land tenure system has been increased fragmentation, deterioration and destruction of land .

The main crops found to be planted in the area are millct_ groundnuts, sesame and sorghum . Although productivity ofmillet and sesame is declining and productivity of groundnuts and sorghum is increasing, farmers concentrate on the cultivation oi‘ millet and sesame paradoxically . The use of tractor and animal traction have increased cultivated area and productivity but it intensified desertification and reduced land fertility . An important draw-backofthe agricultural system in Shiekan rural area is its neglect oflivestock . Under price liberalization, a poor farmer sells his production early at low price to meet his needs . llence there is no saving to be reinvested in traditional agriculture . To rectify these imbalances in the farming systems the study recommended the following : a) There is a need to improvement in teclmology, flexibility and security in the land tenure system . b) Substitution ofmillet and sesame by the most prolitablc crops of groundnuts and sorghum . c) Research on introduction of new teclmical packages for small farmers should start at the farm level, and work backward to the research stations . d) There must be essential improvements and input which are needed to improve an existing farming situation and to provide them in the form ofintegrated package .