Adoption of Wheat Technical Packages Effects on Productivity in Dongola Locality, Northern State, Sudan

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of adoption of recommended cultural practices on productivity of wheat in Dongola Locality, Northern State, Sudan. Multi stage random sampling technique was used to collect data from 150 farmers through structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and regression were used as analyzing tools, during 2014/15 season. The recommended cultural practices include sowing date, seed variety, seed rate, urea and superphosphate doses, weeding, number of irrigation and harvesting time. Results showed that all farmers were male and most of them were literate and most of them are in the active age group (26-45). In addition to that, 45% of farmers possessed a family size in the range of 5-10, more than a half of them (52%) owned their farms. However, 68% of the farmers said that the extension services were not available and 63% of them adopted the extension information. Sowing date, number of irrigations, weeding and harvesting time were the more frequently adopted activities. Generally, results showed that high crop production can be achieved by applying the recommended cultural practices. The results revealed that adopting recommended cultural practices can significantly increase the wheat production. The study further suggested strengthening the agricultural policies that lead to increase the rates of adoption of technical package of wheat like enhancing the extension services physically and morally besides subsidizing the prices of agricultural inputs.