Impacts Of Modification Of Bush Fallow System On The Sustainable Livelihood Of Local Communities In Um Ruwaba Localtiy, Sudan

Abstract

Hashab tree is one of the most important tree species in the Sudan with wide range of uses. In the study area (Um Ruwaba) like other sites of the gum-belt zone, the tree is traditionally cultivated as a component of an agroforestry system known as the gum bush-fallow cultivation cycle (BFC). This system is subjected to several factors, which affected the sustainability of the cycle. The fallow period which is an essential component in the cycle has been eliminated or drastically reduced. The objective of this research is to investigate the impacts of modifications of the traditional gum cycle on the livelihood and welfare of the local communities. Moreover, the study attempts to explore the main constraints and measures of risks behind the modification of the traditional cycle and the possibility of the adoption of new models-if any- by farmers. The main findings of the research are; the stocking density of hashab tree is almost increased compared with history of the study area, but trees are no longer tapped for gum Arabic by all farmers. On some areas, averages of 3 to 5 hashab trees are kept per feddan in the cycle. Several factors contributed negatively to the sustainability of the traditional cycle among which are; lack of clear marketing policies of gum arabic; unavailability of labor and frequent drought and pests. The extension unit plays a major role in the study area despite the poor infrastructure and limited fund. Despite the modification of the cycle, various productive cycles of fallow period pointed out. A concise description of a fallow vegetation succession is given. The main conclusions of the study are; gum arabic production is no longer attractive to farmers in the study area, despite the existence of hashab tree on farms; the fallow period has been eliminated or drastically reduced from the cycle. There is intensification of crops cultivation at the expense of fallow period and hashab trees. The study also arrived at some recommendations.