the Symposium on Wheats for More Tropical Environments - cimmyt

336shows domestic production, seedrequirements for sowing with seed lossset at 5%. imports and totalconsumption. Table 4 presents resultsof studies on projected future wheatconsumption, domestic production andimports.Cost of wheat productionThe costs involved in <strong>the</strong> production ofwheat have continued to rise everyyear, as shown in Tables 5 and 6. Thisis mainly due to increases in <strong>the</strong> pricesof production inputs. In spite of <strong>the</strong>sehigh costs of production, it has beenproven that wheat is a profitable cropfor producers when yields exceed950 kglha.Taking into consideration <strong>the</strong> projectedcost of production and prices of wheatin <strong>the</strong> international markets, and with<strong>the</strong> modest projected yields of 2,000.1,430 and 2.500 kg/ha for <strong>the</strong> Gezira,New Halfa and nor<strong>the</strong>rn regions.respectively. it was shown that it wouldbe more economical to grow wheat in<strong>the</strong> Gezira scheme until <strong>the</strong> 1990-91season than it would be to import it.The case of <strong>the</strong> New Halfa scheme canbe seen to be different (Table 7).The Social Impact of Growing WheatSorghum is <strong>the</strong> staple food for most of<strong>the</strong> Sudanese, although wheatconstitutes a major component of <strong>the</strong>diet in certain parts of <strong>the</strong> country,namely in <strong>the</strong> Nor<strong>the</strong>rn Region and NewHaIfa, as well as in urban communities.With <strong>the</strong> increasing prices of sorghumgrain, as well as <strong>the</strong> effort and fuelneeded for sorghum food preparation,increasing numbers of Sudanese areshifting from sorghum to wheat. Theseand o<strong>the</strong>r factors have enhanced farmerenthusiasm for wheat cultivation.Regardless of <strong>the</strong> crop profitability. itscultivation is regarded as a means ofsupplying family consumption needs. Inaddition, <strong>the</strong> high degree ofmechanization of wheat productionensures that it does not tax farmersphysically to any conSiderable degree.Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore. <strong>the</strong> crop was introduced asan addition to o<strong>the</strong>r crops in rotations:thus. it leads to increased family income.These factors have resulted in increaseddomestic household activities, education,social actiVities, leisure consumption andgainful nonagricultural activities amongfarmers: it has also reduced <strong>the</strong> numberof farmers migrating to o<strong>the</strong>rprofessions.Table 4. Projected wheat consumption, production and imports, Sudan,1985-86 to 1991-92Consumption Domestic production ImportsSeason (000 tons) (000 tons) (000 tons)1985-86 643.8 287.4 356.41986-87 672.9 313.5 359.41987-88 703.4 313.5 389.91988-89 735.4 313.5 421.91989-90 769.6 313.5 456.11990·91 805.3 313.5 491.81991·92 843.0 313.5 529.5Source: Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. 1982. Comparative Study ofCost of Growing Wheat in <strong>the</strong> Sudan and Importing it from Abroad.Khartoum, Sudan.