EVALUATION OF AGRICULTURAL MECHANAIZATION STATUS IN GREENHOUSE IN KHARTOUM STATE

Abstract

THIS STUDY WAS CONDUCTED DURING THE PERIOD (JULY 2011 -JUNE 2012) TO ASSESS THE STATE OF MECHANIZATION IN GREENHOUSES IN KHARTOUM STATE. A SET OF QUESTIONS IN THE FORM OF A QUESTIONNAIRE WERE PREPARED WHICH INCLUDED PERSONAL DATA, HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE GREENHOUSES, DESIGN, SHAPE OF THE BUILDING, THE TYPE OF COVER , LOCATION, TYPE OF SOIL, PROCESSES OF FARMING THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE HOUSE (THE PREPARATION OF THE LAND, CULTIVATION, IRRIGATION, FERTILIZATION, PEST CONTROL AND HARVESTING). THE QUESTIONNAIRE WAS DISTRIBUTED TO A NUMBER OF FARMERS IN LOCALITIES WHERE THE GREENHOUSES WERE FOUND. THESE INCLUDED: KHARTOUM BAHRY, OMDURMAN, KHARTOUM NORTH, EAST NILE AND JABEL AWLIA. THE TOTAL NUMBERS OF FARMS WERE 46 FARMS. SOME OF THESE WERE LARGE HAVING 100 GREENHOUSES WHERE OTHERS SMALL WITH ONLY 2GREENHOUSES. THESE INCLUDED A NUMBER OF SINGLE HOUSES 34ANDMULTISPAN 12 HOUSE.............................................LXII xii WHEN ANALYZING THE INFORMATION COLLECTED IN THE QUESTIOARE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE PERCENTAGE OF MALES 82.61% , FEMALE17.39%, AGE MORE THAN 30 WAS58.69%, THE PERCENTAGE OF THE UNIVERSITY EDUCATION 93.48%, PERCENTAGE OF TRAINED 76.1%, PERCENTAGE THE DATE OF BUILDING HOUSE FOR ONE YEAR 36.96%, PERCENTAGE OF SINGLE HOUSE 73.91% , MULTISPAN 26.09%, THE PERCENTAGE OF DIRECTION NORTH SOUTH 86.95%, THE PERCENTAGE OF DIMENSIONS 39×9×3.5 WAS 65.45%, THE PERCENTAGE OF TYPES HOUSE QUONSET 69.56%, THE PERCENTAGE OF PLASTIC COVER 86.95%, THE PERCENTAGE OF SITE SELECTION NEAR TRANSPORT 43.48%, THE PERCENTAGE OF TYPES SOIL MIXED 60.87%, THE PERCENTAGE OF HOUSE TILLAGE PLOUGHING 65.22% THAN SOIL REPLACING 34.78%. AGRICULTURAL MECHANIZATION WAS NOT OPTIMAL BECAUSE ONLY15 FARMS 32.61% OUT OF 46 FARMS USED AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY, IN ALL THE FARMS IRRIGATION MECHANICAL WAS DONE BY DRIP (100%), PLANTING DONE BY MANUALLY (100%), FERTILIZATION PART DONE MANUAL (2.17%) AND OTHER WAS DONE BY MACHINE 97.83%. THE PEST CONTROL WAS DONE BY SPRAYING PLANTS MANUALLY WITH KNAPSACK SPRAYERS (100%), ALL HARVESTING WAS CARRIED BY MANUALLY (100%)....................................................................LXII