Abstract:
Potato is one of most popular and widely grown vegetable in the Sudan. The
main potato producing area in Sudan is Khartoum state.
The main objective of the present study was to verify the economics of
potato production in Khartoum State. The study was intended to specifically
identity and analyze the socio-economic factors related to potato production. It
also aimed at studying the characteristics of potato growers and their resource
endowment. Moreover, the study assessed and compared the cost and
profitability of potato production between the three localities in Khartoum State.
The study depended mainly on primary data which was provided by direct
interviewing of potato growers using a structured questionnaire. Other
secondary sources of information included Ministry of Agriculture and
foresting’s annual surveys and reports as well as different local universities.
The survey was carried out during the period February-April, 2007. The
data collected was for the season 2005/2006.
Crop budgets, graphical and cross tabulation as well as simple statistical tools
were used in the data analysis.
The study indicated that the farmers were a hornogenous group since
almost all of them shared the same socio- economic characteristic, Seeds,
labour, land rent and irrigation were the main cost items which affected potato
production. Seed cost represented the highest cost in the three localities.
Karrari Locality recorded the highest price and Sharg El Niel recorded the
lowest price.
VII
The regions under study all had positive gross margin profitability and may
be ranked in order of coefficient of private profitability as follows: Karrari,
Bahri and Sharg El-Neil.
To improve potato production in Khartoum State the study recommends
provision of production specialized credit, provision of inputs in a good quality
at the right time and at reasonable market prices.
Marketing processing and export of potato need to be seriously studied in
future.
