A review on: Developments in sugar industry in Sudan: An analysis of the factors affecting sugar production, marketing and consumption

Sudan is considered one of the main sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) produers among Arab and African countries. The overwhelming contribution of the agricultural sector to the national economy is loosing ground to the new oil era which might create some sort of economic problems like the so-called "Dutch disease". To avoid this problem strategic objectives are to be met via long-term planning perspectives that maintain viable agriculture during and after the oil boom era. Sugar can provide a sound economic stimulus for development if carefully handled. Sugarcane is grown mainly in the central and eastern Sudan, where abundant flat land and sufficient irrigation water are available. It shared only 6% (68 thousand ha) of the total irrigated land in 2001-2002 season (ca. 0.43% of the total country export value in 1996. In Sudan sugarcane is mainly processed to produce sugar in Kenana Sugar Company (KSC) owned largely by the private sector, in addition to four other publicly owned factories under the control of the Sudanese Sugar Corporation (SSC). In season 2001-2002 the four government factories produced almost 284 thousand metric tons compared to KSC's 405 thoousand metric tons (Mol, 2002); however, in the 2002-2003 season the SSC plants increased their production to almost 300 thousand metric tons (ca. 6% increase) according to the SSC (2003). Amongst the main producing countries worldwide are Australia, Brazil, the European community, Thailand and South Africa (ISO, 2001-2003). After harvest, the first step in sugar manufacturing begins with cane weighing, haulage, chopping and washing, and feeding into extraction machines. These are followed by the steaming (using large boilers), evaporation and condensation processes to obtain sugar concentrates. Post crystallization which is the final stage in processes comes packing and loading to distribution centers or storage warehouses. Numerous constraining factors e.g. political, economical, administrative and technological have contributed to the status quo of sugar situation in this country.