Evaluation of some orchards management practice under River Nile State - Sudan.
Daffall M. A., Abdalla I. F., Abdalla H. S.
Author Affiliation: ARC, Horticultural Crops, Hudeiba Research Station, Shendi, Sudan.
International Journal of Agriculture Innovations and Research 3 : 1691-1696
Abstract : The study was conducted to investigate socio-economic characteristics of citrus and mango growers, technical gaps and pest and disease problems among 74 randomly selected citrus and mango farmers using closed structured questionnaires in 3 selected localities in the River Nile State. Study deepened mostly in primary data collected through structured questionnaire. The data analyzed using descriptive analysis. The results revealed about 40% of respondent are well educated (secondary level and more) and were in the age class 55.3 with 33 years experience and family sizes of about eight person and two of them work in field, Agricultural sector are dominated by government (66%.) While the production system are dominant by private producers (62%) and only 7% was government. Jerif and island soil was the most fertile soil in the study area but due to the limitation of these land orchard farms expanded in the kurro and higher terraces by 37% and 18% respectively. Source of seedling was mainly from personal nurseries (57.5%) and only 18% and 27% from ARC (Agricultural Research Corporation) and ministry of agriculture nurseries respectively. 81.0% farmer apply urea fertilizer to their fields flowed by organic fertilizer 62.2% little attention was given to phosphorus (1.4%) and potassium (2.7%). In the aspect of orchard care, majority of respondents (78%) are weeding once a year in comparison with about 10% who weeds monthly. Pruning trees is done by majority of farmers (92.2%). Most of respondents (76.7%) are irrigating the fruit trees every 10-15 days along the year and 67% of them used River Nile as the main source of irrigation. Fruit Orchard under study was mixed between mango and citrus. In aspect of orange the main variety was Sinnary (71.4%) flowed by Nouri 16 (10.2%). while Grape fruits was leaded by foster (52.4%) followed by Red blush (38.1%). Most of respondent grew mixture of mango varieties in their farms (85.3%) but only 8.8% of them grew Abusamaka variety. Average infestation of pest and disease at field work was recorded as 96.9%, 27.7%, 92% and 60% for Fruit flies Leaf minor Gummosis and die back respectively. Not only the study showed a reasonable level of farmers' expertise but also they need scientific intervention in such aspects as fertilizer, weeding, source of seedling, planting of export varieties and pest and disease controls. The recommendations were: the ministry of agriculture of RNS (River Nile State) must give more attention to fruit orchard package and put a strong technical heuristic program in collaboration with ARC and The other relevant authorities in aspect of cultural practices management and encouraging interring of new citrus varieties especially orange varieties which were not compete in international market.