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Agricultural Extension in the Sudan: Background Development and Present

Article  in  Wulfenia · October 2014

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Agricultural Extension in the Sudan: Background Development and

Present

Abdel Raouf Suleiman Bello

College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia,
P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Email: raoufbello@yahoo.com

Abstract:
The history of agriculture extension and agricultural technology transfer started
in Sudan in 1902. After independence in 1956, USAID assisted the government
in establishing agricultural extension division to provide the extension services.
This division was developed later to the Agricultural Extension Administration
at the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources(now Ministry of
Agriculture and Forests) , the main Governmental body responsible for
providing a widely diffused extension service in the country . In the 1994, the
country adopted the federal government system and was divided to 26 states.
Accordingly the agricultural extension was decentralized and each state had its
own extension administration, while keeping the Agricultural Extension
Administration at the federal level at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests
under the name of Technology Transfer and Extension, with primary
responsibility of program planning an execution at national level. Increasing
productivity through improving farmers knowledge by different kinds of media
are basic goals of agriculture extension in Sudan. To meet these goals the country
has tried a number of extension approaches as there is no standardized or an ideal
model for the development of the farming in a particular country.
Key words: Agricultural extension, technology transfer, extension services, farmers’
knowledge.

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1. Introduction:

1.1Background Information:
Sudan is a very large country with total area is estimated to 2,505,813 sq. km and
contrasting sharp differences in all its characteristics (Ali, 2012).From north to
south, the desert semi-desert with ephemeral grasses and xerophytes scattered
shrubs to short grass savannah, through long grass savannah to tropical forest with
evergreen trees and tall and very thick canopy of grasses. This gradual transition
is the result of the quantities of rainfall received in each ecological zone, which
varies from less than 50mm per annum, received in 1-3 months in the north to
more than 1500mm per annum spread over 9 months in the south(Suleiman et al.
2008). The variation in rainfall had also its effect on the soil formation and the
topography of the country. The sandy soils in the north and North West extend
through extensive flat plains of light and heavy clay soils in the Centre and eastern
regions, to heavy lateritic soils in the equatorial region of the south. The isolated
rocky-mountains stretches and pockets of gravel along the Red Sea hills, the Nuba
Mountains and Jebel Marra plateau are prominent and in the east, Centre west
Sudan respectively.The country has been experienced recurrent cycles of drought
and floods in areas along the banks of the River Nile and its tributaries as well as
along banks of the two seasonal flushing rivers of Gash and Khor Baraka on the
eastern part of the country. Sudan has wide and diversified renewable agricultural
resource-based including climate, biodiversity, soils and water. The country
multivariate ecological zones provide for different farming systems, crops,
livestock, fisheries, forestry production and other economic activities. Only 18
million hectares of its estimated arable land (86 million hectares) are now utilized.
River Nile and tributaries, rainfall, seasonal streams and underground water are the
major sources of water in the main producing areas where the irrigated,
mechanized and traditional (subsistence) rain fed agriculture are practiced.

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Agriculture is the backbone of the national economy in the Sudan .It contributes
40% of the gross domestic product and contributes principally in the generation of
foreign currency for the country. Furthermore agriculture creates employment
opportunities directly and indirectly for 80% of the population (Higazi, 2012).

The heterogeneous nature of the country resulted in sharp variations in the

production and consumption of food and other crops. The relatively cold weather in
the four winter mouths in the north allows the production of the short day crops such
as wheat legumes, citrus fruits and drought-tolerant date palm trees. A range of food
and industrial crops are grown in eastern central and western Sudan such as sorghum,
millet, sugar care, cotton, gum Arabic, sesame and groundnuts using irrigation and
the direct rains. In the south, tropical fruits, rice, root crops, tea and coffee are grown.
Vegetables are grown all over the country, mainly for home consumption and for the
nearby markets in small quantities.
For some time, the country faces numerous problems including inter alia social
conflict, civil war, on-going rural urban migration and the consequences of the July
2011 secession of South Sudan. The new born country share in the oil sector
estimated to about three-fourths of the former Sudan's total oil production. The oil
sector had driven much of Sudan's GDP growth since it began exporting oil in 1999,
the matter that hardly affected the country national budget.The year 2012 marked a
watershed in the economic history of Sudan as the government had to adjust to the
new economic reality following the secession of South Sudan and the consequent loss
of about 75% of revenue: real GDP is estimated to have grown by -0.6% and is
projected to grow by 2.2% in 2013(African Development Bank, 2013).Following
South Sudan's secession; Sudan has struggled to maintain economic stability of the
Sudan, because oil earnings now provide a far lower share of the country's need for
hard currency and for budget revenues. Therefore ,to maintain the country Sudan is
attempting to generate new sources of revenues, such as from gold mining, while

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carrying out an austerity program to reduce expenditures(African Development Bank,

2013).
1.2 Defining Agricultural Extension:
The Concept of Agricultural Extension has a wide range of definitions; it is defined by
many scholars in different parts of the world. Swanson (1984) stated that "Extension is
an on-going process of getting useful information to people ( the communication
dimension ) and then in assisting those people to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills
and attitudes to utilize effectively this information or technology ( education dimension
)." Maunder (1973) as cited by Swanson (1984),defined agricultural extension as "A
service or system which assists farm people, through educational procedures, in
improving farming methods and techniques, increasing production efficiency and
income, bettering their levels of living, and lifting the social and educational standers of
rural life”" Roling (1982) viewed extension as "extension means different things to
different people, but most people regard it as a government instrument to promote
technologies for improving agricultural production and farmer's income."Agricultural
Extension plays essential role as communication channel to transfer new ideas and
innovations to the farmers where they are. It encourages them to use and adopt the
innovations to increase agriculture product and hence improve their standard of living.
That is mainly, because the Agricultural extension contributes directly to promoting
agricultural development and rising of food production and income so as to improve
living conditions of the farmer because the farmer faces problems and barriers to reach
that goal.
The conventional definition of agricultural research includes both applied research and
extension (Anderson (2007). Essentially extension services act as a bridge between
scientists who strive to resolve problems in the practice of agriculture through research
and the farmers who need the solutions. Innovative technologies and good practices can
be translated to increased yields and improved food security only when it is properly
communicated to farmers (Annie and Merle 2012).

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An analysis of national extension systems in Asia and the Pacific Region (Qamar, 2006)
shows that agricultural extension today is passing through a major transformation as a
result of dissatisfaction with the public systems perceived to be outdated to respond to
changes like globalization, decentralization and information technology revolution. In
some countries agricultural extension uses a common pattern where technical
prescriptions derived from controlled conditions are disseminated using top‐down
extension approaches with little attention to local conditions, often making the content
unworkable. In other countries, despite relatively well organized network of extension
systems, success is hampered by inappropriate material, declining budgets for field
activities, and inadequately skilled and poorly motivated staff (Friederichsen, 2008).
Extension systems in many countries are struggling to shift to more integrated, farmer‐
oriented approaches to rural innovation that emphasize the importance of interactive,
mutual learning between formal and informal knowledge systems which are integrated
and multi-disciplinary(Annie and Merle 2012).
1.3 The Sectoral Government Extension Organization:
The Sectorial Government Extension Organization happens to be the most commonly
operating model in Asian countries and especially those basically have been ruled by the
British Empire. Very often a Department of Agriculture (DA) functions under the
Ministry of Agriculture i.e. the main agency, primarily responsible for realizing
development in the agriculture in a particular country. Moreover, the DA can have many
further divisions, in addition to the research and extension subdivisions. The extension
wing consists of a number of officers in the head office but has a clear line of command
from national level to the province, district, and down to the village level. In most
countries, extension service functions through its four or five subdivisions
(Blanckenburg, 1984; Baig, 1992; APO, 2006).

1.4 Extension Methodology: Some Basic Issues:

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The individual instruments used for information and advisory work are called media; the
mode in which extension makes use of the media is called methods (Blanckenburg,
1984). Extension methodology is really very important and it could be one of the prime
reasons, extension services in Sudan reach only a very limited number of farmers.
Extension Service can make use of numerous individual methods and different types of
media are at its disposal too. Each individual extension method has specific
characteristics, features and properties. These methods vary in the degree of their
acceptance by clients. Extension professionals in making use of them have their own
preferences too. The selection of a particular extension method also depends upon its
suitability to convey certain messages or to achieve a particular effect. The individual
media and methods have their specific achievement potential, which is not identical to
that of any of the others. Some group methods and an individual advisory work have
proved very successful with respect to their capacity to influence the farmers to act.
However, they are costly too when measured in terms of the number of farmers reached.
But the opposite is very true in the case of mass media. Although their strength does not
lie as much in convincing the people and leading them to change, mass media reaches
many clients at low cost providing with the needed information. Group methods occupy
in many respects, an intermediate position. They reach a larger segment farming
community than individual advisory work, and if these mass media operate very well,
they have proved extremely effective (Baig and Aldosari, 2013; Blanckenburg, 1984;
Baig, 1992).
1.5 Pictorial means and Visual aids:
Visual aids are usually combined with the written or spoken word (Baig et al., 1995). In
Sudan, farmers are usually illiterate hence visual aids are especially effective as they
learn much by seeing With the low production cost, the information provided through
newspapers, magazines, journals, leaflets, pamphlets, and brochures is of great
importance particularly for the literate audiences. Information disseminated by radio is
not only cost-effective but also reaches to the clientele at the most appropriate time.
However, many countries like Pakistan and India, where people speak and understand

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different languages in the different regions, in the situation, the multilingualism of a

nation could certainly limit the scope of the messages disseminated through radio .
Under these circumstances, the delivering of extension advice comprising complex and
complicated technical information should not be transmitted through radio. However,
the flexibility of radio to reach the audiences in the most economical manners and the
ability of TV to integrate visual messages suggest immense potential (Baig et al.,
1999).In this regards, Blanckenburg (1984), also suggests that the right combination of a
good mix of extension methods and the suitable media, made many extension projects
successful. An excellent extension worker would combine individual advisory work with
group methods in order to deliver the extension advice effectively. Today Audio-visual
aids and mass media have gained high popularity and due importance as a tool for
performing advisory work. The publications and leaflets are also quite helpful to the
literate farmers and adequately support the individual and group advisory work. While
conducting group meetings and demonstrations, slides and films have also proved very
helpful. The farm radio forum has received sufficient popularity for combining a mass
media and an interpersonal approach. The radio broadcast is usually followed by a
discussion on its delivered contents between the extension officer and a group of farmers
making it an appealing extension approach. Launching of the campaigns for a single
aspect remains a very suitable instrument for certain purposes (Baig and Aldosari,
2013).
1.6 Brief History of Agricultural Extension in Sudan:
According to Altayeb (2005).the history of agriculture extension and agricultural
technology transfer started in Sudan at the time of establishing the research centers in
1902, with the establishment of experimental cotton farms in Shendi (120 km north of
Khartoum) on the main Nile and in Alkamleen (60 km south of Khartoum) on the Blue
Nile.In 1904 the department of agriculture (now the Ministry of Agriculture and
Forests), established Shambat Research Farm in Khartoum North where some botanic
and agronomic work was carried out. In 1952 a research station focused on solving
problems related to rain-fed production of sorghum, 12 sesame and groundnuts was

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established at Tozi , in Gedarfi area (now Gedarif State in Eastren region of Sudan),the
main area of rain-fed production area for sorghum and sesame. After independence in
1956, USAID assisted the government in establishing agricultural extension establish
agricultural extension division to provide the extension services. This division was
developed later to the Agricultural Extension Administration at the Ministry of
Agriculture and Animal Resources(now Ministry of Agriculture and Forests) , the main
Governmental body responsible for providing a widely diffused extension
service(Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry,2009). In the 1994, the country adopted the
federal government system and was divided to 26 states. Accordingly the agricultural
extension was decentralized and each state had its own extension administration, while
keeping the Agricultural Extension Administration at the federal level at the Ministry of
Agriculture and Forests under the name of Technology Transfer and Extension (TTEA),
with primary responsibility of program planning an execution at national level.
1.7 Major Institutions Providing Agricultural Extension/Advisory Services in
Sudan:
Almost every developing country now has a mixture of public, NGOs and private
marketing firms (e.g. seed and fertilizer dealers) delivering extension assistance and
providing advice to the small farmers (Baig and Aldosari, 2013). Despite all this, the
country has tried a number of extension approaches including commodity approach,
Training & Visit system, community development, and Farmer Field School (FFS),
(www.worldwide-extension.org/africa/republic-of-sudan,2011).A number of transitional
structures between each of the three types can also be noticed . Davis (2008) further
states that there is no “best practice” available to modify the extension programs and
formulate a magic model that could be launched as a standardized or ideal model for the
development of the farming in a particular country. Institutions providing agricultural
extension services in the country are as follow:
1.7.1 Public Sector:
1.7.1.1 Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry:

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At national level, the Technology Transfer and Extension Administration (TTEA), is

responsible for agricultural extension matters. The objectives of this administration unit
include the development of agriculture; improvement in the production quality;
enhancement of farmers’ income through rational exploitation of natural resources;
comprehensive human prosperity via profitable, sustainable agriculture; and making
agricultural products competitive in international markets with the aim of assuring food
security and increasing agricultural revenues(TTEA,2011, www.ttea.gov.sd).
Moreover, as indicated at the TTEA website ,the mandate of the Administration covers
the transfer of research-endorsed technologies to the farmers for adoption; development
of agricultural institutions; mobilization and participation of stakeholders including
farmers, financiers, scientists, private input dealers, service providers, marketing
specialists and agricultural practitioners in the process of agricultural development
(TTEA,2011, www.ttea.gov.sd).
Moreover, the TTEA comprises five divisions. These namely; Seed Division (seed
certification, monitoring of seed import and export, development of seed production and
processing, and technical advice on seed matters), Agricultural Engineering Division
(technology transfer, farm machinery feasibility tests, training in the use of machinery,
encouraging local manufacturing of machinery and tools, adapting modern irrigation
equipment to local conditions, resolving issues related to post-harvest agricultural
products, upgrading of agro-based and cottage industries, and promotion of locally
available intermediate technologies), Agricultural Information Division (production of
radio and television programs in support of extension, coverage and documentation of
formal training events, field days, festivals, etc., and organization of permanent
exhibition to diffuse information of interest to producers and investors), Agricultural
Extension Division (extension research studies, evaluation of extension events, support
to states’ extension programs, capacity building of extension staff and other
stakeholders, improving rural livelihoods, field supervision, institutional coordination,
and exchange of Sudanese experiences nationally and internationally), and Human
Resources Development Division (organization of training activities at various levels).

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Each division is headed by a director. The TTEA also maintains a Technology Transfer
Center and relevant Station whose mandate is to transfer technical information to
stakeholders including farmers. The total extension staff at the Administration is about
662 as shown by table 1.

Table 1: Human Resources in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture’s Extension System

Major categories of Secondary 2 to3-year B.Sc. M.Sc. Ph.D
extension staff school Agriculture /Eng. Agri . TOTAL
diploma diploma culture
Gender F M F M F M F M F M
Senior management staff 3 3 3 4 5 12 4 22 0 1 57
Subject-matter specialists 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
(SMS)
Field-level extension staff 0 45 13 20 243 109 25 39 0 1 495
Information,communicatio 0 7 0 0 39 34 11 19 0 0 110
ns& technology (ICT)
support staff
In-service training staff 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total staff 3 55 16 24 287 155 40 80 0 2 662
Source: www.worldwide-extension.org/africa/republic-of-sudan(2011)

Discussing crop quality in the field

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Source: www.worldwide-extension.org/africa/republic-of-sudan(2011)

1.7.1.2 General Directorate of Extension, Technology Transfer and Pastoralists’

Development, Federal Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries:

The General Directorate of Extension, Technology Transfer and Pastoralists’

Development (GDETTPD) at the Federal Ministry of Animal Resources and
Fisheries is responsible for extension matters related to livestock owners, pastoralists
and fishermen. The Directorate runs its grassroots programs based on the needs of
pastoralists, animal owners, producers and fishermen. It develops strategies and
programs of animal resources sector that concentrates on livestock, trans-boundary
and zoonotic disease control, in addition to the promotion of animal production and
fisheries. The GDETTPD conducts extension needs assessment surveys, collects
technical information from researchers and converts it into simple extension
messages, runs field campaigns in collaboration with stakeholders to create

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ecological awareness among producers, organizes grassroots capacity building

programs for pastoralists, participates in rural development and poverty alleviation
programs, and makes use of mass media in support of its mandate(Qamar, 2012).The
Directorate comprises three departments, namely Extension and Technology Transfer
(has field extension division and research and technology transfer division);
Pastoralists’ Development (has pastoralists organizations division and pastoralists
services division); and Communication and Documentation (has video and montage
division and audio materials division). The Directorate also has a Technical Unit with
six (6) veterinary staff, making 38 in total.

Table 2: Human Resources in the Federal Ministry of Animal Resources & Fisheries’
Extension system
Department Type of staff Number of staff
Extension & Veterinary 11
Technology Transfer
Pastoralists’ Veterinary 12
Development
Communication & Extension Technician 9
Documentation
Technical Office Veterinary 6
Total staff 38
Source: Qamar (2012)

1.7.1.3 States Ministries of Agriculture and Animal Resources and Fisheries:

There are Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries,
located in each of the 17 states of the country, provide extension services at the local
states level.

1.7.1.4 Agricultural Research Corporation (ARC):

The Agricultural Research Corporation is the main public semi-autonomous

organization for agricultural research, under the Ministry of Agriculture. Although
the corporation has a Technology Transfer and Extension Division yet it does not run

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any significant extension programs except for sporadic research outreach activities in
farmers’ fields.

1.7.2 Non-governmental organizations (NGOs):

Some NGOs provide different extension activities including the following: Crop-life
Africa & Middle East and the Sudanese Agrochemicals Association cooperated with
the TTEAWhere?? in organizing a Training of Trainers course in the use of pesticides
in 2010. Plan Sudan (NGO) has collaborative activities in El-Gash Agricultural
Project. In Kassala State. MADRE in partnership with a community-based
organization, Zenab for Women in Development, launched Women Farmers Unite,
Sudan’s first and only women farmers’ union. The union provides seed, tools and
training to its members (TTEA, 2011, www.ttea.gov.sd,)

1.7.3 Farmer-based organizations:

About 40 percent farmers in the country belong to some sort of farmer or producer
organizations (www.worldwide-extension.org/africa/republic-of-sudan(2011). These
organizations play key roles in farmer-to-farmer extension activities, influencing
extension policy, assessing extension performance, and helping in setting extension
priorities. Many villages in several States have rural women’s groups who are mostly
supported by NGOs. The groups are especially successful in dairy processing, and are
active in poultry and fisheries. The Gender Mainstreaming in Development Unit of
the Federal Ministry of Agriculture organizes frequent capacity building activities for
rural women through its gender focal points that are present in all states.

Farmers Classes

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Source: www.worldwide-extension.org/africa/republic-of-sudan(2011)

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Sauce: TTAE, (2011). www.ttea.gov.sd

1.8 View on the Agricultural Extension Strategies in Sudan:
Increasing productivity through improving farmers knowledge by different kinds of
media are basic goals of agriculture extension in Sudan (Altayeb, 2005). The
Agricultural Extension Administration within the Ministry of agriculture adopted
different strategies, to strengthen the relation between agricultural extension and
research corporations at the national and international research levels, and to extend
the opportunities to disseminate the results of the agriculture researches through
agriculture extension programs. Another goal is to make the necessary channels for
the technical information between the agriculture research centers and farmers
through the extension agents, and feedback from farmers to the researchers to find
suitable solutions (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry 2009). The government
provides facilities for the preparation of the administrators and technicians involved
in the technology transfer from the research centers to the farmers with the methods
that the farmers accept and understand (Alsheikh and Brpwon 1991). Another goal of
agricultural extension is to reorganize and implement the related programs to
Agricultural extension activities given to Sudan government from the international
NGOs or foreign countries, through the creation of favorable conditions in the
relations with the African and Arabs Agriculture extension institutions. Collecting all
the statistics related to the Agricultural extension, and send it regularly to the
Administration of Agricultural Planning and Statistics, in the ministry of Agriculture
and Forestry (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, 2009).
1.9 Info-mediaries and information and Communication Technology for
Agriculture and Extension:
The Agricultural Information Division of the TTEA at the Ministry Agriculture and
Forests, which is responsible for production of radio and television programs in, as
well as for the organization of permanent exhibitions to diffuse information of
interest to producers and investors(TTEA,www.ttea.gov.sd.) According to the World
Bank, in 2010, the number of mobile cellular subscriptions (per 100 people) in the

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Sudan was 40.53. During the same year, the number of Internet users (per 100
people) in the country was 10.16.
The total number of ICT staff in the Ministry of Agriculture is 109, which includes 95
in print and mass media, and 14 in computer-based information technology; all of
them enjoy Internet access. The extent of the ICT use is reflected from the following
figures: information bulletins and fact sheets (6,600); audio-visual education material
for use by extension staff (30); extension materials and publications available on-line
(40); television programs (four (4) per month); radio programs (30 per month).
Lately, the “Ziraa Mobile (SMS) Service” has been introduced by TTEA through
which SMS messages are sent to the producers containing technology packages and
current prices of horticultural crops. To subscribe, the interested persons can dial
5084 on the Sudani Network or 1519 on the Zain Network, and send the code of the
crop they want information on. The producers can also obtain needed information
from the AAEA website www.ttea.gov.sd.
The General Directorate of Technology Transfer and Pastoralists’ Development of
the Federal Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries also has Department of
Communication and Documentation. The department comprises two Divisions: one
for video and montage, and the other for audio materials. The divisions have
necessary equipment like advanced video, digital cameras and Apple Macintosh
computers. Weekly radio programs covering subjects of animal health, technology,
pastures development and public health are broadcast through the National
Broadcasting Corporation targeting pastoralists, animal owners, producers and
fishermen. In addition, the General Directorate has established its own broadcasting
studio in order to directly produce programs for wider coverage through the FM
broadcasting station in Sudan. The Technical Unit produces a variety of extension
materials including posters, brochures, stickers, booklets and documentary films.
There are many government and private institutions in the Sudan that provide training
in ICT/ICM. Good example of an active program is the Information and
Communication Technologies Programs Coordination Council (ICT-CC) of the

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Sudan Academy of Sciences (SAS), http://www.sas-sd.net, Ministry of Science and

Technology (AAEA www.most.gov.sd). The ICT-CC was established in 2004 and its
main tasks are to coordinate different capacity building skills and research programs
in ICT in the country for social and economic development. It collaborates with the
following Institutions to perform its tasks:

 Informatics Industry Sector, Ministry of Science and Technology

 National Centre for Research
 Documentation and Information Center (Registrar Office and Laboratory)
 Remote Sensing Authority
 Agricultural Research Corporation (the NARIs of the Sudan and Coordination
Council for Agricultural Research Programs in the Sudan Academy of
Sciences- SAS as well as the Focal Point of national, regional and
international agricultural information networks/systems)
 National Corporation for Telecommunication
 Sudatel, the largest telecommunication company in the Sudan and the region
 Miraag for Space Technologies Company
 Kuch Company
 National Centre for Information.

1.10 The Role of Various Actors:

Table 2 shows the tasks of the different agricultural extension providers

Actor Task
TTEA Departments transfer, monitor, test &
promote technologies related to
seeds, agricultural machineries, and
other innovations.
Private sector and farmers Adopt and implement technologies,
organizations (target group). adopt and implement technologies.

Adopt and implement technologies work in collaboration with TTA and

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other
financing agriculture.

Source: TTAE, (2011). www.ttea.gov.sd

1.11 A new (Innovative) Agricultural Extension method (SMS):In view of

developing extension methods currently new methods has been innovated and
adopted by the TTEA by using mobile phone in rendering particular services such as
SMS the message include technologies and the current prices. The message received
by the farmers is coincide with field activities of each crop field and horticultural
crops. For the farmer to subscribe in this service, he should dial on the telephone
number (5084) Sudani network and send the code of the crop which you want and
also dial on the number ( 1519) Zain network and send the code the crop he
needs in addition to that they can access from the TTEA web site ( www.
ttea,gov,sd). In such a way, the TTEA is spear head in leading the change
in agricultural production in order to attain food security. And increase agricultural
exports and prosperity (AAEA, 2011, www. ttea,gov,sd)

2. Conclusions

The history of agriculture extension and agricultural technology transfer started in

Sudan in 1902. In 1956, USAID assisted the government in establishing agricultural
extension division to provide the extension services. This division was developed
later to the Agricultural Extension Administration at the Ministry of Agriculture
and Animal Resources(now Ministry of Agriculture and Forests) , the main
Governmental body responsible for providing a widely diffused extension service in
the country . In the 1994, the country adopted the federal government system and was
divided to 26 states. Accordingly the agricultural extension was decentralized and
each state had its own extension administration, while keeping the Agricultural
Extension Administration at the federal level at the Ministry of Agriculture and
Forests under the name of Technology Transfer and Extension, with primary

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responsibility of program planning an execution at national level. Increasing

productivity through improving farmers knowledge by different kinds of media are
basic goals of agriculture extension in Sudan. To meet these goals the country has
tried a number of extension approaches including commodity approach, Training &
Visit system, community development, and Farmer Field School (FFS). A number of
transitional structures between each of the three types can also be noticed. That is
maily because there is no “best practice” available to modify the extension programs
and formulate a magic model that could be launched as a standardized or ideal model
for the development of the farming in a particular country. Moreover, suveral
institutions and organizations in public and private setcors, NGOs and farmers based
organizations are providing different agricultural and veterinary extension services in
the countery.
Acknowledgement: The author is grateful to the Saudi Society of Agricultural
Sciences, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for extending all possible assistance and
cooperation in the completion of this study.

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