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Sudan is a vast country with huge variable resources ; the most important being agricultural resources . The country has an agricultural potential of 105 million ha, of which only 16.7 million ha are cultivated . According to the Nile Waters Agreement with Egypt, total actual renewable water resources of the country amount to 64.5 km3/yr. However, the country has a high reserve (464 to 564 km3 )of underground water ; only about 0.4% of which is presently utilized. Moreover, more water may be secured for irrigation purposes from the largest floodplain in Africa (Sudd region in Southern Sudan ) which covers an area of 100000 km2 but loses by evaporation and spills 50% of annual surface flow . Jonglei canal project was designed in 1980 to reduce such water losses but was halted in 1983 because of unrest. Therefore, and in light of the available land and water resources, there is ample room for further developments in agriculture.
Sudan is endowed with a large number of livestock and also large livestock genetic resource (cattle-sheep-goats-camels) .Unfortunately very little has been done to identify and characterize the genotypes existing in the country . Locally available breeds of livestock are important economic resources since they are adapted to the existing production constraints such as feed shortages, prevalent diseases, etc. The productivity of indigenous breeds is low compared to temperate breeds, but their ability to survive and produce in the harsh and mostly unpredicted tropical environment is remarkable.
Livestock are raised mostly under pastoral, agro-pastoral and village-based systems of production. The former two systems are distinguished by seasonal movement between wet and dry season grazing lands but in the agro-pastoral system (transhumance) of production both livestock and crop cultivation are practiced. Some pastoral groups specialize in raising one animal species e.g. sheep, camel or cattle .In both agro-pastoral and village- based systems of production multiple animal species may be raised. The proportion of cattle in herds increases in regions where transhumance becomes more important. The utilization of the rangeland for grazing by different tribal groups is based on traditional rights .The The major goals in pastoral systems are to assure subsistence for the community and to reduce the negative impact of diseases and drought on livestock population by maximizing livestock numbers. Rangeland is a cheap source of livestock feed but is vulnerable to draught and exhibit marked seasonal fluctuations in quantity and quality. Moreover, the utilization of the rangeland for grazing will be greatly impaired if enough supplies of stock water are not available.
The pastoral and agro-pastoral systems of livestock production supply most of the meat consumed locally and all export live animals and meat. Sudan is generally self-sufficient in red meat and partially sufficient in fresh milk. However, there are important inter-annual , geographical ,regional and household variations. Annual meat production from cattle ,sheep, goats and camels in the country is about 2 million tones . However, only about 0.94% of the total meat is converted into value added products . The domestic market has not been tapped for ready-to-eat and semi-processed meat products . There are attractive opportunities for investment in supporting services including construction and operation of modern slaughter facilities and development of cold chains in meat and poultry processing sector.
Apparently the meat production sector is the most attractive area for investment because major inputs (animals and feed) are readily available and there are promising regional export markets .Production of red meat is less than the demand for it in all Arab countries except Sudan ,Somalia and Djibouti . However, Sudan faces strong competition over the Gulf meat market from countries such as Australia ,New Zeeland, Brazil , Argentine and European Union. Among ,the factors that reduce the competitiveness of Sudanese meat in the latter market are failure to meet hygiene and quality specifications ,high sale price of Sudanese meat and inability to sustain regular supplies to the market. In fact the livestock sector is in urgent need for modernization to remain competitive in the existing export markets and to enter new markets. To encourage modernization of the agricultural sector the government issued the investment encouragement act in which investment projects in the livestock sector are considered strategic projects and therefore enjoy many privileges (see: http://www.sudan/investment.gov.sd) . Similarly to boost export of livestock and livestock products (as well as other local produce ) the National Agency for Insurance and Finance of Exports was established and an act describing its objectives and its activities was published in 2005
Cattle contribute most to locally consumed meat but mutton is the meat of choice and fetches a higher price than beef and chevon (goat meat) . As a source of meat goats are very much under-utilized and contribute very little to export trade of live meat animals and carcasses.Local goat meat consumption should be encouraged to reduce the number of cattle and sheep slaughtered for local consumption leaving more sheep and cattle for export. Desert goat meat is leaner than that of mutton and beef , with less chemical (intramuscular) fat but more protein . Moreover, goats tended to have a higher proportion of unsaturated fatty acids and that makes goat meat more suitable for continuously growing number of health conscious consumers of meat .
Fisheries resources of the Nile are concentrated, within Sudan, in five reservoirs across the Nile. The potential holding capacity of these resources is around 100.000 tons of fresh fish annually. The country's second source of fish is the Red Sea coastal area and has an annual estimated fish yield of around 10000 tons. This includes fish, shellfish (including pearl oysters), and other marine life. The development and management of inland fish resources is mired by long distances between production and marketing areas but the lack of modernization is the major obstacle. Fishing ,as a business, is to the greater number of fishermen a subsistence type of work and has not been exposed to modernization as traditional techniques prevail. There is need is to introduce modern fishing vessels, transport launches, and other fishing equipment. There are attractive investment opportunities in fish marketing ( ice plants, cold stores and cold transport) and fish processing ,
There is only fragmentary information on the history of poultry in the Sudan .As early as 1926 pure bred Wyandotte were imported by a British subject . By 1928 the first booklet on poultry was written by A. A. Mcloghry under the name (Poultry Breeding in the Sudan) . In 1951 Khartoum North Central Poultry Farm was established as the beginning of government investment in poultry keeping in the Sudan. Read more about poultry industry in the Sudan.
The country is enjoying diverse populations of wild animals ;and of the 13 African mammalian orders, 12 are present in Sudan. The protected wildlife areas cover around 36 million ha. and there are 8 national parks, 13 game reserves and 3 sanctuaries. Read more about Sudanese wildlife.
The total population of sheep ,goat ,cattle and camel in Sudan (134 millions in 2005) represents 4.2% of the corresponding world population of these animal species. Nevertheless , the share of the Sudan in the global market of hides and skins ,which amounts to Billion $ 74 is around million $ 35-30 .This small share of the Sudan in the global market of hide and skins cannot be attributed to small number of animals that are slaughtered for local consumption as more than 40 million heads were scarified in 2004 but only 4170919 pieces (10%of slaughtered animals) of hides and skins were marketed . This modest harvest of hides and skins is attributed to wide spread practice of unofficial slaughter of animals under conditions that do not permit proper flaying , grading ,preservation and storage of hides and skins. There is good chances for investment in skin and hides collection , preservation ,storage , tanning and the manufacture of products from hide and skins
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