Research Station for Crop Production under Rain-fed Agriculture (Agadi), Sudan .

This is a research station located in the site of the Arab Sudanese Blue Nile Agricultural Company with the main objective of determining the cultivation practices of the Zero-tillage farming system, as well as solving the problems facing the application of this farming system at the investment level.

• During the year 2006, some enhancements were introduced into the zero-tillage farming system. One of those enhancements was the addition of fertilizer into soil before sowing the seeds. As a result, crop yields recorded considerable increases. For instance, cotton yield increased to 800 kg/feddan.
   

• During the year 2006, twenty field trials were implemented. They included variety trials for cotton, sorghum, sunflower, and maize, as well as observations on legume crops and millet. They also included trials for weed control, and trials for buda (striga hermonthica) control. In addition, the program included fertilization trials, field water control trials, and sorghum cost reduction trials.
   

• The results showed that the sorghum variety Wad Ahmed out-yielded the other varieties, and that the cotton varieties introduced by the Agricultural Research Corporation for rain-fed agriculture, such as Burhan and Khalifa, out-yielded the other varieties. NPK fertilizer showed significant superiority for sorghum and sesame as compared to nitrogen fertilizers.
   

• During the year 2007, 17 field trials were implemented. They included variety trials for cotton, sorghum, maize, sunflower, and sesame, in addition to field observations on legume crops and millet. They also included trials for weed control, and trials for buda (striga hermonthica) control, fertilization trials.

The Research Station for Crop Production in the Rainfed Areas / Gadarif / Sudan:

• The station was established in 2004 with the objective of furnishing the scientific backup for the program of Zero-tillage farming technology dissemination to small farmers in Gadarif State.
   

• The year 2006 witnessed the implementation of trials on sorghum varieties at different (early and late) sowing dates, trials on sesame varieties, fertilization trials, and a trial for cost minimization for small farmers.
   

• The trials were carried out in collaboration and coordination with the experts of Gadarif Research Center of the Agricultural Research and Technology Corporation/ Sudan and the Ministry of Agriculture in Gadarif state with the purpose of securing the participation of the national research and extension institutions in the program, future sustainability and expansion of the program, in addition to rational spending.
   

• The research results indicated that Wad Ahmed variety out-yielded the other local varieties of sorghum in the early and the late sowing dates. However, the research results did not show significant differences among sesame crop varieties.
   

• The fertilization trials showed preliminary positive indications of increases in sorghum and sesame yields as a result of using NPK fertilizer.
   

• The activities during the year 2007 included the implementation of field trials in collaboration with the Agricultural Research Corporation in the state. They covered trial for comparing the yields of branch varieties with those of non-branch varieties of sesame, cotton variety trials, fertilization trials for promising sorghum, sesame, cotton and sunflower varieties. This was in addition to a trial for control of buda "striga hermonthica" on sorghum by growing trap crops.

Research Station for Vegetables and Fruits Production (Um Doam), Sudan .

The station is located on the east bank of the Blue Nile, 25 Km east of Khartoum. It aims at developing vegetable and fruit crops production, as well as introducing non-traditional vegetable crops, in Sudan.

• Many field trials on crop varieties were implemented in the station.
   

• A considerable success was achieved in introducing non-traditional vegetable and fruit crops, such as broccoli, sweet corn, and different varieties of lettuce. The station was also able to produce the seeds of those crops locally.
   

• The success of modern irrigation systems was one of the outstanding results of the station.
   

• Utilizing green houses for growing vegetables in the hot summer season is also an important result of the operation of the research station.
   

• During the year 2007, variety trials were carried for sweet pepper, cantaloupe, cucumber, marrow, eggplant, pepper, and peas using different irrigation systems for summer season.
   

• A wide trial was implemented on an area of 20 feddans for testing the growing of 9 tomato varieties using flood irrigation and drip irrigation.
  

Zero-Tillage -Farming (Agadi), Sudan

 

Agricultural Research Station in Mauritania :

In the beginning of the year 2000, AAAID set new objectives and mechanisms for the experimental farm which was established in 1995 to support investment activity in the field of production and processing of vegetable oils in Mauritania. Accordingly, the name of the farm was changed to Agricultural Research Station in Mauritania, to be as a permanent extension and research station aiming at development of agriculture in Mauritania.

The new plan of this research station aimed at a group of programs which include:

• The move from agriculture in small research experiments to wider scale experiments.
  
  
• Adopt the concept of diversified agriculture and increased crop intensification.
  
  
• Growing of promising cultivars that proved their success under agricultural conditions of Mauritania .
  
  
• Raising the efficiency of the station facilities and reduction of expenses.
  
  
• Openness and cooperation with specialized Mauritanian authorities, as well as Mauritanian farms and investors, in relation the applied programs. 
  
  
• Provision of farm management from Mauritanian cadre.
  
  
• Approval of self-financing concept for the station management.

The achieved results by the end of the year 2000 indicated that the management of the station, which is under the supervision of the Applied Agricultural Research Department of AAAID, has achieved all its planned goals, which can be summarized as follows: The station had the privilege of being officially visited by several Arab, international and European organizations. It is currently a station that is formally approved by the World Bank and ICARDA.

• During the year 2006, efforts were continued in the agricultural equipment rental unit. The unit was provided with new agricultural machinery and production inputs for farmers in Mauritania. The unit was considered a pioneer project which furnishes an opportunity for establishing a commercial investment project.
   

• During the year 2007, variety trials were implemented for rice, maize, and wheat crops. Also a trial was implemented for testing the zero-tillage farming system in irrigated areas.
   

• The station implemented a program for developing vegetables and fruits cultivation in Mauritania. In the framework of the program field extensional trials were implemented for the benefit of traditional farmers, as a preparatory stage for applying their results in investment projects.
   

• The station was furnished with necessary equipment, including plastic domes, potato planter and harvester, and a drip irrigation system.

Umboria Agricultural Project (Mauritania):

• The objective of the project is the adaptation and dissemination of modern farming technologies to traditional farmers in the valley of the Senegal river to increase crop yields, improve the financial and social status of this group, and alleviate poverty. This is in addition to applying the principles of sustainable agriculture in growing a legume crop (or any other crop) in rotation for the purpose of the farming cycle, diversification, and preservation of natural resources, in order for the project to stand as a model to be followed by others.
   

• Targeted area: 624 hectares to be cultivated by AAAID as a wide experimental and extensional project, 800 hectare to be cultivated by farmers where AAAID provides irrigation and extension services to farmers, and 2600 hectares for future expansion.
   

• Targeted crops: Rice (as a main crop), wheat, potato, maize, peanut, onion, and other crops.
   

• There is an administrative and financial steering committee under the supervision of AAAID in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture, in addition to a specialized technical and financial follow-up committee from AAAID.
   

• The project contributes in providing irrigation services implementation of farming operations (land grading, ploughing, sowing/ planting, spraying, and harvesting) using the most modern agricultural machinery and equipment. This is in addition of the provision of post-harvest services and marketing.
   

• The project implemented the plan for season 2006 and achieved promising results, in addition to solving many technical, management and organizational difficulties. Efforts are continued for implementing the plan for season 2007/2008 for growing rice and maize crops.

Comoros Research Station:

• The station was established in the beginning of 2005 as a research, development and extension station with the objective of developing agriculture in the Union of the Comoros through carrying out trials on grain and vegetable crop varieties, pest-control, plant intensity, fertilization, and field observations for promising crops. This is in addition to experiments to develop animal production, specially poultry rearing, the application of modern farming technologies with the purpose of transferring them to farmers, and developing water harvest systems.
   

• In 2006, the station continued its research activity by implementing a program for carrying out trials on vegetable and field crops, and green houses, using modern irrigation systems for optimizing water consumption and providing extension to farmers.
   

• The activity of the station was continued during the year 2007 covering the implantation of a group of research and service activities, summarized as follows:

1. Implementation of a research program for growing rain-fed vegetable crops (cassava, taro, carrot, and sweet potato), irrigated crops (tomato, onion, potato, pepper and beans), irrigated poultry fodder crops (yellow corn, maize, Soya beans), in addition to vegetable variety trials in green houses for off-season growing of tomato, pepper, beans, and cucumber crops. The results are used for for the purpose of extension to farmers. This was in addition to the implementation of a program for testing drip irrigation systems in open fields in preparation for transfer to farmers.
    

2. Preparation and implementation of a program for combating persistent plant diseases in the Union of the Comoros.
    

3. Implementation of a program for the production of banana seedlings using tissue culture technology. AAAID has completed the establishment of an integrated laboratory for tissue culture production of seedlings for banana and other crops under a direct technical management from AAAID.