AfriCenter participated in a study tour to Sudan organized by the Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern & Southern Africa (ACTESA/COMESA) in collaboration with the National Biosafety Council of Sudan, between November 8 and 13, 2015. The delegates who included regulators, journalists and researchers from Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe acknowledged the progress made by Sudanese cotton sub sector as a result of adoption of Bt cotton.
They visited the irrigated cotton areas of New Halfa Agricultural Corporation (NHAC) and Rahad Schemes. Farmers in these areas said that they are satisfied with the technology since it has helped them tackle the African boll worm menace and in effect led to increased and quality harvest. They explained to the visiting delegation how the increased incomes enabled them change their lifestyles.
“As a result of the yield increase from 4 quintal/ feddan (952Kg/ Ha) with conventional cotton to 15-18 quintal/feddan (3571-4285kg/ha) with Bt cotton, I have been able to buy a car, 25 cows and sheep,” said Mr. Ibrahim Ahmed, a Bt cotton farmer in Rahad Scheme. Similar success stories were shared by farmers in the two schemes visited.
The delegates also visited the Chinese technology transfer center at Rahad Agricultural Corporation where two large ginneries have been set up by Chinese private investors. This has been enabled by the good will and corporation of the Sudanese and Chinese governments. The ginneries have provided a ready market for farmers’ cotton and created about 1500 job opportunities for the young people especially women.
Research has also benefitted from the corporation of the two governments. Sudanese scientists are looking forward to the release of the first local cotton varieties introgressed with the acquired Bt technology in two years. In the meantime they are carrying out research to establish the best planting time in order to escape other insect pests that are a challenge to Bt cotton farmers such as mealy bugs and whiteflies. The researchers are also working to establish the best fertilizer regimes for the different soil systems.