Socioeconomic Aspects of Agroforestry Systems: The Case of Gum-cultivation Cycle

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to attempt to understand the
nature of the problems related to production and local marketing of
gum Arabic as seen by producers and local traders. Using structural
questionnaires and multistage stratified sampling, data were collected
on economic activities, production and productivity, price and pricing
policy and marketing and trade as well as services provided to
producers. Statistical analysis was carried out using various descriptive
methods including means and means comparisons. The results
indicated a general declining trend of the areas tapped by households,
productivity per unit area, prices received by producers and different
forms of services during the period covered by the study. The level of
the producer’s price seems to be the most important socioeconomic
factor affecting the decision to produce. The need for institutions that
are more effective and of services that promote production and
marketing were seen as essential. The results have important
implications on pricing policies and sustainability of the gum-
cultivation cycle as an integrated management system in the gum belt
of the Sudan.