Prospects of Technology Adoption in Small Pump Schemes in the River Nile State, Sudan

Abstract

Linear programming was used to simulate the farming systems
of small pump schemes in Shendi area, River Nile State, Sudan, to assess
the prospects for technology use in cool-season food legumes and wheat.
Different production activities, with respect to target crops, were
identified to reflect different technology levels. The model constraints
were the pump capacity, the scheme size and family labour. Alternative
versions of the model were developed to examine possible production
options that exist and to examine the effects of alternative resource levels
and policy options, which are likely to affect adoption. The model results
revealed that while farmers' traditional practices were not economically
feasible options, tendency is for adoption of medium rather than the
recommended high technology levels. This reflects actual farmers'
behaviour, particularly for irrigation water, and indicates that water is the
main resource constraint. The results also showed that the technology is
not well supported by the traditional institutions of production relations,
which create conflicting perception between resource owners towards
technology use.