TAAT wheat compact in Sudan helps crops flourish in dry, arid conditions

With the support of the Technologies for African Agriculture (TAAT) program at the African Development Bank, farmers in Sudan have recently recorded their largest wheat harvest ever – 1.1 million tons during the 2019-2020 harvest season.

The introduction of new irrigation systems to water crops in the country’s dry, arid regions, as well as climate-smart seeds, are to thank for this success.

As part of the TAAT program, Sudanese farmers like Yousif Mohamed Yousif received seeds that produce higher yields and that can also withstand temperatures passing 38 degrees Celsius. Farmers also received training on how to plant, nurture and harvest this new heat-tolerant wheat variety.

“In the past our fields produced low yields using uncertified seeds,” Yousif said. He explains how a farmer field school taught him methods to transform his agribusiness from being seed buyer to becoming a seed producer.

“Technologies for African Agriculture is the Bank’s effort to put the best technologies in the hands of farmers to help them become more resilient, increase their productivity, and become agribusinesses,” said Martin Fregene, the Bank’s director for agriculture and agro-industry.

Watch the video above to learn more about how TAAT has improved outcomes for Sudanese farmers.