Using range and forage species to improve the system’s productivity and to build resilience of agro-pastoral systems in semi-arid North Kordofan-Sudan Annual Report

Abstract

Activities carried out included the following: Multipurpose fodder trees and shrubs of North Kordofan State, cactus introduction and evaluation, awareness increase and field days. Seven rangelands species were identified, the activities related to these species included: seed collection, seed testing and characterization, nursery sowing and establishment, distribution of seedlings to the communities, community training in seedlings planting and tending. Thirty-one promising accessions were introduced from Jordan with three pads from each accession planted in Elobeid Research Station, the research topic related to cactus involved: evaluate and identify accessions that are highly adaptable, resulting in high yields, under the conditions in North Kordofan, develop an efficient cactus-based agro-forestry system, develop a field gene bank for supplying cactus planting material (the most adapted accessions) to farmers in order to disseminate cactus plantations and to increase feed availability, standardization of animal feeding practices and extension and awareness program on cactus as an alternative feed for livestock among various stakeholders. Six field days and simmers took place in 2018.