Economics of pototo production and marketing in khartoum state

الملخص EN

This study aimed at examining the socio-economic characteristics of potato producers in Khartoum State, identifying and analyzing potato total costs, returns and profits, during a situation of plentiful production.

Accidental sampling technique was used to collect data from 192 potatoes farmers from Wad-Ramly and Elshihainab villages, Khartoum State.

Simple statistics and partial budget analysis were employed to attain the stated objectives.

The results revealed that most of the farmers had low educational level (53.13%) and long working experience in potato production, hence considerable management ability following traditional methods is expected to prevail in potato production.

It also showed that, potato producers incurred a relative huge loss (1242.4 SDG/feddan) in selling all their products at harvests, during good condition.

Hence, they sell part of their products at harvest (55%) and store the rest (45%) to convert their losses to profit.

Total costs (production and marketing) were relatively large (5924.9 SDG/feddan), with production cost representing the highest share (63%).

The major production cost item was potato seeds (34.8%).

Other production costs, in descending order were hired labor for performing different agricultural practices (20.8%), irrigation (9.1%) sacs and packaging (8.0%), opportunity cost of capital (7.4%), zakat and taxes (6.7%), fertilizers and pesticides (6.3%), land rent (5.4%) and land preparation (4.0%).

The marketing costs add substantially (37%) to the total costs, with cold-store hiring (47.9%) and quantity spoiled at stores (27%) represent the principal share.

Certain policies are required to improve the production and marketing of potato among them are encouragement of researches and transfers industry.