Sorghum Production Assessment in Selected States of Sudan for 2024/25 Season

This report assesses sorghum production in Gedaref, White Nile, Blue Nile, and Kassala for the 2024/25 season. It reveals improved crop conditions, increased planted areas in some regions, and a total estimated yield of 2.65 million tons. These findings underscore the significance of sorghum in Sudan’s agriculture and economy.

This report presents an analysis of sorghum production for the 2024/25 growing season in select states of Sudan, specifically Gedaref, White Nile, Blue Nile, and the New Halfa irrigation scheme in Kassala. Sorghum, regarded as Sudan’s staple crop, is valued for its storage capability, allowing it to be kept safely in underground pit stores, known as Matmuras.

The methodology utilized includes satellite data to identify sorghum cultivation areas. The peak normalized difference vegetation index (Peak-NDVI) was then correlated with yield results obtained from crop sampling, after which the established regression model was applied across all identified sorghum areas.

Key findings from this research are as follows: crop conditions in 2023/24 exceeded expectations despite various challenges faced by farmers. The sorghum planting area in Gedaref for 2023/24 showed a slight increase over 2023 and was above long-term averages in White Nile and Kassala, though it remained below average in Blue Nile.

In terms of area estimates for Kassala, approximately 734,000 hectares of sorghum were recorded. The average productivity for rainfed sorghum at the state level was estimated to be about 0.9 tons per hectare. The total estimated production of sorghum for 2024/25 was projected at 2.65 million tons, with breakdowns as follows: Gedaref at 1.57 million tons, White Nile at 0.70 million tons, Blue Nile at 0.31 million tons, and 0.07 million tons from the New Halfa irrigation scheme in Kassala.

The analysis of sorghum production in Sudan for the 2024/25 season indicates positive crop conditions and productivity levels, ultimately culminating in an estimated production of 2.65 million tons. Notable increases in planting areas were observed in key states, suggesting a resilient sorghum farming sector amid previous challenges. The data highlights the ongoing importance of sorghum as a staple food source and economic asset for Sudan.

Original Source: www.cgiar.org