Economic Analysis of the Factors Affecting Wheat productivity in Zeidab Scheme in the River Nile State, Sudan

Abstract

This study was conducted in the Zeidab scheme at 2006/07 season to analyze the economics of wheat production and investigate the factors which influence its productivity. The primary data was collected from stratified random sample of 100 tenants in Zeidab scheme through questionnaire. The secondary data was obtained from several sources. x A variety of analytical techniques were used, including descriptive statistics, budgeting and regression analysis. The analysis of the socio-economic characteristics showed that the majority of the tenants (82%) are in productive age, (77%) are literate and the agriculture is the main occupation. The budgeting analysis showed that high cost of production of wheat, and the inputs costs represent the highest percent. Regression analysis showed that the sowing date, quantity of fertilizer, number of the irrigations, farm income and crop area were the most important factors that affect the yield of wheat. From the study, it is clear that wheat producers were facing many problems including low productivity, high cost of production, low price of output, delay of formal credit, irregular irrigation water, weak extension services, and delay of preparation and harvest operations. The study recommends the fallowing: 1- Incentives have to be provided to the farmers in terms of reasonable prices, credit and inputs. 2- Regularity of irrigation water. 3- The scheme should be improve extension services to improve the tenants' skills and technical knowhow. 4- Availability of machines for land preparation in proper time is of vital importance so as to catch optimum sowing date. 5- The harvest must be at the optimum time, so as to reduce the harvest losses.