I. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Sudan
THE annual precipitation in Sudan is
estimated at 1000 MD cubic metres.
The two Niles and their tributaries bring
about 122 MD cubic metres only 14.6
MD cubic metres are being utilised by
Sudan out of its share of 20.5 MD cubic
metres as per the Nile water agreement
of 1959.
Other seasonal surface water (water
courses known locally as khors or
wadis) is estimated at 7.8 MD cubic
metres with only 160 million cubic
metres have been utilised.
1.2. North Darfur
NORTH Darfur is situated within
the marginal tropical zone, in
which precipitation is concentrated in a
short summer period. The area has been
struck with a series of droughts since
the famine of the mid-eighties, which
was followed by droughts in the years
1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, and partially in
1997. The ecological balance is getting
worse and worse. Rainfall is described
as increasingly more erratic, irregular
and unreliable in its amount and pattern
of distribution. Between 1967 and 1982,
the mean annual rainfall decreased by
42%. The average rainfall in Kutum, for
instance, has dropped from 345mm to
243mm annual mean. This has resulted
in great losses of livestock, crop
production, natural vegetation cover
and wildlife.
During the last few decades, the
rapid growth of human and animal
populations, and the occurrence of
a long drought phase, from 1968
to the present date, has resulted in
desertification. This phenomenon of
ecological imbalance has brought the
spread of desert conditions south of the
Sahara and into the savannah zone. For
the resident populations adaptation to
the new reality is a necessity.
As a result of drought and
desertification, farmers’ yields have
dropped dramatically. Over many years,
the poorest families have consistently
harvested only one bag of food, and
some have even seen zero production.
Dry natural pastures have led to the
death and loss of animal resources. With
losses in crops and herds, people have
become food insecure.
Coping Strategies: A common way of
coping with drought for many house-
holds is to migrate out of the area.
A recent study estimated that around
one third of the total population has
left their households and local areas for
good. The remaining inhabitants have
found themselves facing serious haz-
ards. Many have realized that the only
way to combat macro- environmental
hazards is by adapting coping strate-
gies. The most common of these can be
summarized as follows:
Polygamy: Increasing the size of the
family also increases the labour force
allowing more food to be secured by
more hands planting and harvesting.
Increased Cultivation: By expanding
areas of cultivated land, farmers can
PRACTICAL ANSWERS
TO POVERTY
5