Some Economic Aspects of Zero Tillage Experience in Blue Nile State of Sudan
Nasreldin ATIYA Rahamtalla
Department of Economics
Yobe State University, Damaturu, Nigeria
Email: nasratiya@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Zero tillage is an extreme form of minimum tillage and it is also known as no till farming, direct seeding, direct tilling and conservation tillage. Adoption and implementation of zero tillage is one of the alternatives for increasing production and productivity. This paper attempts to shed light on some of the economic aspects of zero tillage experience in Blue Nile State of Sudan. The paper finds that the productivity of all crops cultivated under zero tillage in Blue Nile State was higher than the productivity of the same crops cultivated under conventional tillage during the same periods. The cost of production of Sorghum under zero tillage was higher than under conventional tillage because of high cost of inputs such as machinery and chemicals, while for Sesame the cost of production was lower under zero tillage than under conventional tillage due to high cost of harvesting operations in conventional tillage. Total revenue under zero tillage was higher than that under conventional tillage and it fluctuated from one year to another due to instability of productivity and prices. Zero tillage is more profitable than conventional tillage and the fluctuations that took place in net profit were because of fluctuations in productivity and marketing prices instability. It is recommended that the efforts which have been made by the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development ( AAAID) should be encouraged and supported by the Sudanese government to overcome the current bleak reality of agriculture in the Sudan. Investors have to co-operate with the Arab Authority to develop and modernize the means of farming in the rainfed semi-mechanized sub- sector of Sudan generally and Blue Nile State particularly.
Keywords: Experience, Zero Tillage, Blue Nile State, Sudan.
