Improved wheat production practices and the question of economic efficiency in the Gezira irrigation scheme
1994
Hassan, R.M. (Centro Internacional de mejoramiento de Maiz y Trigo (CIMMYT), Nairobi (Kenya). Economics Program) | Faki, H.H.M. (Agricultural Research Corporation (ARC), Wad Medani (Sudan)) | Byerlee, D. (Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maiz y Trigo (CIMMYT), Mexico, DF (Mexico). Economics Program)
The domestic resource cost (DRC) methodology was used to evaluate the comparative advantage of existing and potential wheat technologies versus alternative crops (cotton) in Sudan's Gezira Irrigation Scheme. Results of the DRC analysis indicated that cotton dominates all wheat technologies including the full package of improved practices at 1992 trend and actual prices. Sensitivity analysis showed that for full package wheat to become the most efficient alternative in Gezira, the world wheat price must be 11 higher than 1992 trend levels. However, as wheat prices are currently below their long-run average, and since average yield levels in Gezira are much lower than potential yields under the full package of technology, at present it may not be economically efficient to expand wheat production in Gezira at the expense of cotton. Before more land is removed from cotton and sown to wheat, priority should be given to promoting faster adoption of efficient production methods to close the gap between potential and current farmers' wheat yields in Gezira. Input procurement and delivery systems should be liberalized for more efficient and timely utilization of inputs. On-farm testing of the new technology in Gezira should continue to refine research recommendations to suit the particular needs of the different locations and target farmer groups in Gezira. It is also important for Sudan to devote more resources to improving the quality and marketing of its cotton crop, given the high potential gain in cotton export prices from higher quality lint
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