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Geography,
agriculture and the economy of the Sudan The Sudan is the largest country in Africa, with a total land area of more than 2.4 million km2. Traversed from north to south by the two great Blue and White Nile rivers, it is one of Africa’s most geographically diverse countries, with mountains, desert, swamps and rainforest. The southern part of the country is tropical, the north is an expanse of arid desert. Rainfall is erratic and drought occurs periodically in some regions. The current population of about 33 million is growing at an annual rate of 2.2 per cent. The Sudan is characterized by a rich ethnic and tribal diversity that reflects wide population movements over the past centuries from West and East Africa and the Arab peninsula. Economy The Sudan is endowed with rich natural resources and could potentially become a major agricultural producer, yet it is one of the poorest countries in the world. Decades of civil strife and poor economic management have held back the Sudan’s economy and widened the gap in economic and social development between north and south, and between urban and rural areas. In the rural and southern regions there is a lack of infrastructure and extreme poverty has become widespread, made worse by drought and famine. Large parts of the country are dependent on humanitarian aid and a barter economy. Although economic reforms introduced in 1997 have stabilized the economy, the problem of external debt looms large as an obstacle to future growth. The Sudan’s economy is based mainly on agriculture: cotton, sesame and livestock are among its main exports. The country has significant oil resources, which could make an important contribution to the country’s economic stability. So far the oil sector has made a limited contribution to the labour market and to overall equitable growth because revenues are currently absorbed to repay investments by oil companies. While economic growth in the Sudan is estimated at 6 per cent yearly, poverty remains widespread. In the context of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement the oil industry constitutes a basis for peace. Oil is likely to help development progress if its revenues are used to build a modern and democratic state. Agriculture The Sudan, with its large areas of arable land, has a predominantly agricultural economy. Agriculture contributed about 39 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2001, and continues to be a major export sector. About 70 per cent of the population is rural and depends on agriculture for food and income. Nomadic herders and smallholder farmers coexist alongside recently established mechanized farms. About 60 per cent of all crop production depends on irrigation, and 33 per cent is rainfed. Source: IFAD |
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