1. Grain Legumes and Drylands Cereals Research Program
Launch Meeting
14-16 February, 2018
Harmony Hotel
Addis Abab, Ethiopia

2. I. SUDAN COUNTRY PROFILE
Location: NE corner of Africa
Area: 1.8 M Km2
Population: 36 M

3. Natural Resources 117 M ha Arable Land 84 M ha Forests and Pastures
1.8 M km2
Arable Land
84 M ha

4. Arable Land 84 M ha (26% culti)
Irrigated 2.5 M ha
Arable Land
84 M ha
(26% culti)
Rainfed M ha
(65% to GDP)

5. Animal Resources
48 M
41 M
Animal Res.
130 M
38 M
3 M

6. Rivers 18.5 km3 Rainfall 1000 km3 Water Resources Ground Water

7. Dry lands of Sudan

8. Sudan Soils

9. Drylands Cereals Sorghum
In Sudan grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor L. (Moench)] ranks first in terms of both area (8m ha) and volume of crop production (4-6)
At least one third of the total cropped area in Sudan is annually placed under sorghum, producing about 75% of food grains in the country.

10. About 88% of total sorghum area is in the rain-fed sector (drylands) (produced 75% of the total production of sorghum in Sudan)
Most of the crop is consumed locally, with a significant part used for fodder and smaller part is used by industry for production of glucose and starch.
All excess sorghum is exported, especially to gulf markets.

11. It is also important for the chicken industry
As a feed crop, sorghum is important for animal feeding and fattening.
Can be mixed up to 30% with wheat flour for bread making.
Sorghum is a source of calories (68-78%), protein (9-16%) and fat ( %).

12. Technologies 33 released varieties (22 OPs + 11 Hybrids)
Water management (Water harvesting).
Fertilization recipes
Agronomic package

13. Challenges and Gaps Low average yield (large yield gap)
Transfer of technologies to end users (VC)
Climate change
Capacity development
Seed and Hybrid industry
Biofortied varieties (started)

14. Pearl millet
Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is the staple food for most inhabitants in western Sudan.
It is the second most important cereal after sorghum exclusively grown under rain fed conditions.
Total annual cultivated area in the country exceeds 3 million hectares

15. Pearl millet
The traditional rain fed sector in Kordofan and Darfur regions contributes by about 90% to the total annual cultivated and harvested areas.
Up to date 4 varieties (3OPs + 1 hybrid) were released together with their production package
New early maturing, consumer preferred varieties developed through participatory breeding are under release.

16. Challenges and Gaps
Development of bio fortified varieties (started with ICRISAT + FAO).
Insect pests and disease resistance
Low yield resulted from poor adoption of improved technologies (low yield of farmers’ local cultivars)
Hybrid development
Post harvest losses

17. Grain legumes Chickpea
It is the second most important food legume crop in Sudan.
It is important economically – as a cash crop that generates income for farmers and rural communities – and as a significant source of protein for poor people.
Now chickpea is becomes one of the food security crops in Sudan as many people depend on Taamia (Falafil) for their breakfast and supper

18. Grain legumes Chickpea
Most significant has been the major shift in chickpea area from northern Sudan (cooler, long-season environments) to central Sudan (warmer, short-season environments) during the past TWO decades.
The short-duration cultivars developed through ARC partnerships with ICRISAT/ICARDA has played a key role in expanding area and productivity of chickpea in central SUDAN.
Average area grown to chickpea in recent years reached ha, and its yields range between t/ha depending on cultivars, management and weather conditions

19. Challenges and opportunities
Chickpea
Climate change (increase in temperature)
Diseases and insect (pod and store pest)
Production technologies for the new areas (non traditional areas) where the potential for expansion reside
Increase in local demand and the high opportunities for export

20. Groundnut
Three million feddan (1.3 m hectares) are planted annually, producing about 0.80 million ton with an average yield of 0.86 ton/ha (Sudan is among the top five in GN).
The crop accounts for about 7-10% of the total national cultivated area and it contributes about 5-7% of GDP.
90% of the total GN cultivated area is in the rain-fed sector .

21. The rainfed sector contributes by more than two third of the groundnut production in Sudan.
Groundnut production under the traditional rain-fed production system is dominated by small holding farmers
Ten varieties were released so far (two of them are for the rainfed (Spanish type)

22. Challenge and opportunities
Low yield (0.56 t/ha) due to the low adoption of improved technologies.
Poor seed system
Climate change (rainfall)
Crop mechanization (small holdings)
New early maturing high yield varieties are under release
Availability of potential local and international markets

23. Cowpea
Cowpea is mainly grown as a subsistence intercrop in North Kordofan and northern parts of West Kordofan with seldom large areas grown as sole crop.
Local cultivars have the characteristic large seed (Consumers prefer the jumbo seed) but they are late maturing (one improved variety was released in collaboration with IITA)
Early maturing large seeded line is under release for the rain fed areas with its full production package (Spacing, micro-dozing and seed priming)
Early maturing high yielding small seeded line is under release as dual purpose crop for grain and forage production.

24. Pigeon pea
Pigeon pea,Cajanus cajan production in Sudan is mainly grown in the irrigated schemes.
Medium and short duration cultivars are currently grown (one short maturing variety was released in collaboration with ICRISAT)
Currently extra-short pigeon pea varieties which flower within days and mature within 90 days are under the process of release to the rain fed sector. ( mm).

25. Pigeon pea
In Sudan, pigeon pea is currently competing faba bean as a main dish for break fast. In addition to its excessive consumption during the fasting month.
Sudan is exporting pigeon pea to the Indian sub continent including India, Pakistan etc.

26. Soybean
The initiation of soybean research in Sudan is dated backed to 1930’s.
It is not until 2011, when 2 varieties were released with their package, the crop is considered as promising crop
This was followed by the release of two early maturing soybean in 2017
In Sudan soybean is used in poultry feeding (Sudan import soybean).
Recently Japan in collaboration with UNIDO established small processing soybean factory in Khartoum, Sudan

27. Lentil Lentil is one of the most popular dishes in Sudan.
Although Sudan has reached self sufficiency in lentil in the early 1990’s, its areas of production decreased since then substantially due to policies.
Up to date 4 varieties were released in collaboration with ICARDA.
Due to the improve in market, the crop is currently gaining an increasing importance.

28. Challenges
There is a need for multiplication and dissemination for the seeds of the released varieties.
There is a need for development of more heat tolerant varieties to cope with the changing climate.
There is a need for more efficient technology transfer methodologies and smart policies

29. Involvement of Private Sector and other partners
The involvement of Private sector and other partners along the value chain is key for a sustainable agricultural transformation.
The current policies are pro the private sector both institutionally and financially.
The private sector is at the heart of agenda of our research for development strategies

30. Conclusion
Sudan can contribute significantly to GLDR Program in achieving its target goals (SDGs), eg. food and nutrition security, alleviation of poverty in Sub Sahara Africa in cereals (Sorghum and Millet) and legumes (ground nut, chickpea and lentils).