Sudan : Options for the Sustainable Development of the Gezira Scheme

World Bank

Sudan : Options for the Sustainable Development of the Gezira Scheme

Autores

World Bank

Editor

Washington, DC

Descripción

The report assesses the main factors which constrain the sustainable development of the Gezira Scheme (GS), to develop medium, to long term plans, including short-term actions, to address those constrains. The GS, is described as a large and complex enterprise, because although it is one the world's largest irrigation systems, it has become one of the least efficient, irrespective of the fact that it uses thirty five percent of Sudan's current allocation of Nile water, producing two-thirds of the country's cotton exports. Following debates on recommendations to convert the GS into a joint stock company, the Government requested the Bank to review, and assess options for the GS sustainability. The report identifies the following problem areas: large debt burden; institutional weaknesses, stemming from a centralized administration, and monopoly service enterprises not financially sustainable; infrastructure, and technical deficiencies; uneconomic production due to low average yields; and, social inequities. Recommendations suggest medium to long term plans for institutional change, through public/private partnerships to establish an independent, privately managed Gezira Authority, who would decentralize managerial activities to competent farmer groups, and, in cooperation with government agencies, would coordinate institutional functions in irrigation, agricultural extension, and market information dissemination.

Palabras clave

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, IRRIGATION SYSTEMS, IRRIGATION WATER MANAGEMENT, ENTERPRISE SUPPORT, COTTON INDUSTRY, STATE OWNED ENTERPRISES, JOINT VENTURES FINANCE, STOCK OWNERSHIP, DEBT SERVICE BURDEN, PRIVATE FINANCING, CONTRACTORS, INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY, CENTRALIZED STATE AGENCIES, MONOPOLIES, INFRASTRUCTURE, TECHNICAL COOPERATION, PRODUCTION CAPACITY, SOCIAL INEQUALITY, PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION, DECENTRALIZATION, MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT, FARMER MANAGEMENT OF IRRIGATION SYSTEMS, AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION, MARKET INFORMATION, ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY ACTUAL YIELDS, AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES, AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING, AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION, AGRICULTURAL INPUTS, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY, AGRICULTURE, ANIMALS, ASSET OWNERSHIP, AVERAGE YIELDS, BULK WATER, CATTLE, COMMODITIES, COTTON, COTTON MARKETING, COTTON PRODUCTION, CROP, CROP PRODUCTION, CROP PROTECTION, CROP ROTATION, CROP YIELDS, CROPPING, CROPPING INTENSITY, CROPPING PATTERNS, CROPPING SYSTEMS, CROPS, DAM, DEBT, DECISION MAKING, DISTRIBUTION OF WATER, ECONOMIC ANALYSIS, ECONOMICS, EFFICIENT WATER USE, EMPLOYMENT, EXCHANGE RATE, EXPENDITURES, FAO, FARM, FARM EMPLOYMENT, FARM INCOME, FARMER, FARMERS, FARMING, FERTILIZER, FIELD TRIALS, FLOUR, FORESTS, GENDER, GINNERIES, GRAZING, GROUNDNUTS, GUM ARABIC, HERBICIDES, IMPORTS, INCOME, INCOMES, INFLATION, INSTITUTIONAL CHANGE, INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT, INTEREST RATES, IRRIGATION, IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT, IRRIGATION SYSTEMS, LAND TENURE ISSUES, LAND USE, LIVESTOCK, MACROECONOMICS, MARKETING, OIL, PLOWING, POVERTY LINE, PRIVATE SECTOR, PRODUCTION COSTS, SEED, SEED COTTON, SHARECROPPING, SMALL RUMINANTS, SORGHUM, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, SUSTAINABLE GROWTH, UNITED NATIONS, USE OF WATER, WATER CONSUMPTION, WATER DEMAND, WATER DISTRIBUTION, WATER MANAGEMENT, WATER PRICING, WATER RATES, WATER RESOURCES, WATER SOURCE, WATER USE, WATER USERS, WHEAT, WTA