Impact of Sudan national development planning on sustaining natural resources :A case study of Rahad Agricultural Scheme

Abstract

Development in the Sudan depends mostly on the agricultural sector, also agricultural production is found to be mainly concentrated in rural areas and partially in Khartoum state, the federal capital of the country. In this regard Rahad agricultural scheme represents one of the most important schemes that mainly produce cotton in addition to other different crops (field crops, horticultural crops and roughage crops). The main objective of this study is to investigate to which extend the establishing of the scheme affected (positively or/and negatively), in the scheme area, plus some socioeconomic characteristic and factors which share in production of some field crops such as cotton, sorghum and groundnuts. A field survey was conducted in Rahad scheme area, during the period July 2005. Primary data was collected from selected sample of some 405 respondents and due to some purposes of the study, sample size has been decreased to 286 respondents, using stratified random sampling technique with aid of formal questionnaire. Also secondary data was collected from relevant sources. Data were subjected to descriptive statistical and regression analysis to determine the different factors affecting field crops production in the scheme. The main positive impacts which are caused by establishing the scheme are the improvements in social, economic and cultural aspects of the people in the scheme area, in addition to improving of some important social services such as, education, health, water, and veterinary services….etc. Meanwhile the establishing of the scheme has affected negatively some natural resources which were originally found in the scheme area such as, natural forests, natural pastures and wildlife; also it caused some environmental complications like, water and air pollution which ultimately led to degrading human health. Establishing the scheme led to the appearance of some new human diseases such as Malaria, Typhoid, and Cancer…..etc. The result of regression analysis of cotton production indicated that, cotton, sorghum and groundnuts returns, production cost of cotton, land cultivation of cotton and labour cost of cotton have a significant effect on cotton production, and they have negative signs on their coefficient except production cost of cotton and sorghum return which they have positive signs. Also regression analysis of sorghum production revealed that, production cost of sorghum and cotton, in addition to labour cost of sorghum have a significant effect on sorghum production, and all of them have negative signs on their coefficient. Moreover, regression analysis of groundnuts production showed that, production cost of groundnuts and cotton, groundnuts return and labour cost of groundnuts have a significant effect on groundnuts production, and they have positive signs on their coefficient except production cost of groundnuts which has negative sign. In order to achieve sustainable development, the study has reached some recommendations to be applied in each developmental project in general and agricultural ones in particular, most important of which are: • Putting great consideration for feasibility of environmental studies before establishing any developmental project. • Supporting and encouraging scientific research on various types of sustainable development and environment reservation particularly in agricultural schemes.