Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Sorghum Productivity in the Rain-fed Sector of Gadarif State, Sudan
Nuha Saeed Elameen Ahmed
Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Agricultural Studies, Sudan University of Science and Technology, P.O.Box 71, Shambat, Sudan.
Mutasim M. M. Elrasheed *
Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Agricultural Studies, Sudan University of Science and Technology, P.O.Box 71, Shambat, Sudan and Department of Agribusiness and Consumer Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Science, King Faisal University, P.O.Box 400, Al-Ahsa, KSA.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The aim of the study was to determine, analyze and compare the socioeconomic factors affecting sorghum productivity of small-scale farmers (male and female) in the rain-fed sector of Gadarif state, Sudan. Multistage random sampling technique was used to collect data from 175 farmers from three villages, by means of questionnaire, in February 2013. Descriptive statistics, F-statistics and robust regression analysis techniques were used to achieve the stated objectives. Results revealed the existence of substantial differences between male and female socioeconomic characteristics affecting rain-fed sorghum productivity in Gadarif State, with various degrees. Unlike male-farmers whom they respond significantly to only three independent factors (age (.015; P=.04), education (.29, P=.002) and marital status (.49, P=0001)); sorghum productivity of female farmers was substantially responded to changes of all studied independent variables: age (-0.03; P<.01), education level (-0.05; p<.001), marital status (0.36; P<.001), family members (0.06; P<.01), experience (-0.05; P<.006), and off-farm income (0.0001; P,.04). Accordingly, it is very important to take gender difference in consideration in setting any improvement plans for sorghum productivity in the study area.
Keywords: Robust regression, gender differences, productivity improvement, improvement plans