Economy, Agriculture

The majority of Sudan’s population derives its living from crop farming or grazing, but only 7 percent of the country’s land area is cultivated. Crop production in 2001 included large quantities of cereal grains, such as sorghum and wheat (3.4 million metric tons); root crops, such as potatoes and yams (171,300 metric tons); fruits, such as dates (979,860 metric tons); and pulses (253,000 metric tons). Sugarcane, processed into sugar by local industry, is also grown. Cotton is Sudan’s leading cash crop; it is produced in large amounts in the Al Jazirah (Gezira) region between the Blue Nile and White Nile. The livestock population in 2001 included 38.3 million cattle, 48 million sheep, 3.9 million goats, 3.2 million camels, and 38 million poultry.