Increase in Peanut Crop Yield per Feddan at the Halfa Agricultural Project

Kassala – Dr. Khadr Ramadan, Minister of Production and Economic Resources in Kassala State, announced the successful implementation of mechanization technology in the harvesting of peanut crops.

This announcement was made during his speech at the Field Day event held to inaugurate the peanut harvest. The event was sponsored by Food Specially Agricultural Services Company and its partners in collaboration with the Halfa New Agricultural Authority at the Sarsib Inspection Department in the Al-Basalwa area, under the slogan "A Step Towards a More Advanced and Productive Agricultural Future."

The minister commended the significant role of the CIMMYT Center in implementing agricultural technologies that have shown great success in peanut harvesting, resulting in reduced costs, decreased labor effort, and increased production with higher quality.

Dr. Ramadan noted that mechanized farming operations have boosted peanut yields, achieving 60 sacks per feddan. The total area dedicated to peanut cultivation is estimated at 38,000 feddans, with 34,500 feddans funded by the CIMMYT Center, alongside 36,000 feddans allocated for corn.

Increase in Peanut Crop Yield per Feddan at the Halfa Agricultural Project

Additionally, he mentioned that early corn harvesting operations have seen a 100% increase in yield, thanks to the use of modern technologies and improved seeds. The ministry is planning to cultivate 70,000 feddans of wheat as part of winter crop rotations and 7,000 feddans of sunflower, with support from the CIMMYT Center and the World Food Organization to enhance food security.

Engineer Ahmed Khalifa Idris, Director-General of the Halfa New Agricultural Authority, also announced the commencement of peanut harvesting using mechanized farming. He confirmed that all indicators confirm the success of the mechanization project showed, which achieved a 70% increase in production compared to last year, amounting to 60 sacks per feddan.

Khalifa affirmed the Halfa New Agricultural Authority's commitment to adopting this technology, emphasizing its role in boosting productivity while lowering costs and minimizing waste. He acknowledged the efforts of the CIMMYT Center and its partners in funding 34,500 feddans of peanuts and 36,000 feddans of corn.

In this regard, Dr. Munzir Muhammad Hamad Al-Nil, Chairman of the Board of Food Specially, a contractor for CIMMYT, highlighted the success of agricultural mechanization operations in the Halfa New Project at all stages, achieving a 100% success rate.

Dr. Al-Nil remarked that they have fully initiated mechanized harvesting, significantly cutting costs and time while reducing waste, representing a remarkable success under current challenging circumstances. He added that they expect to double the peanut cultivation areas in the Halfa New Agricultural Project next season after achieving this success with the applied technologies.