The Eleventh Regional Wheat Workshop For Eastern ... - Cimmyt

Reducing mechanical harvesting losses ofwheat - Dawelbeit
RESULTS
The project ideas and efforts were highly accepted and appreciated by the Gezira Scheme
Management as well as the farmers. Adoption rates were very high. This was clear from the good
follow-up of harvesting operations and in the increased awareness about the importance of
solving this problem. Reducing wheat harvesting losses was the main topic in farmers' meetings
and gatherings. This high interest was reflected in the decreased percent losses every year.
Results of the field surveys showed excellent progress in reducing wheat harvesting losses. This
decreasing trend is shown in Figure 1. Before the project, losses were estimated to be about 20%.
In the first year of the project, this percent decreased to 13%. In the second year (1994/95) losses
were further decreased to 9.3%. By the third year, the average loss was estimated to be about
6.8%.
The total decrease in harvesting losses over the three seasons was about 13.2%, saving an
estimated 96,100 tons of wheat. The per capita consumption in Sudan is about 44 kg of wheat
(Pingali, 1999). Thus, the amount saved is enough to feed about 2,200,000 person annually. The
value of the collected amount ofwheat has been ~stimated at about 38.4 billion Sudanese pounds
or about US$25.6 million.
REFERENCES
Dawelbeit, M.I. 1996. Crop establishment and mechanization of wheat. In: Ageeb, OA.A., Elahmadi, A.B., Solh,
M.B. and Saxena, Mohan C. (eds.). Wheat Production and Improvement in the Sudan. Proceedings of the
National Research Review Workshop, 27-30 August 1995, Wad Medani, Sudan. ICARDAIAgricultural
Research Corporation. ICARDA: Aleppo, Syr:ia. 262 pp.
Faki , H.H.M. and M.A. Ismail. 1994. Some indicators for wheat production prospects in Sudan. In: Saunders, D.A.
and G.P. Hettel. (eds.). Wheat in Heat Stressed Environments: Irrigated, Dry areas and Rice-Wheat
Farming Systems. Mexico, D.F. : CIMMYT.
Pingali, P.L. (ed.). 1999. CIMMYT 1998-99 World Wheat Facts and Trends. Global Wheat Research in a Changing
World: Challenges and Achievements. Mexico, D.F.: CIMMYT.
Questions and Answers:
Amanuel Gorfu: It is reported that wheat production in the Gezira Scheme is fully mechanized,
irrigated and crop rotation is also practical. Regardless ofcrop losses after maturity (pre- and
post-harvest losses), what are the major reasons for the low yields obtained from wheat in this
area?
Answer: The major reasons for the low productivity of wheat under Gezira conditions is bad
crop management. Some farmers « 5%) generally produce more than 5 tlha using the package
produced by ARC of Sudan. The rest have the problem ofpoor management.
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