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Co-operatives and Agricultural Development in the Sudan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 November 2008

Mahassin Khider  and
Morag C. Simpson
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Extract

Economic progress in many developing African countries depends mainly on raising productivity. Agricultural development is required to free resources—especially labour—for the expansion of industry and the creation of the infrastructure of a modern state. At the same time the physical volume of output must rise, both to provide food and raw materials for the expanding urban areas, and to earn foreign exchange.

Type
Article
Information
The Journal of Modern African Studies , Volume 6 , Issue 4 , December 1968 , pp. 509 - 518
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1968

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References

Page 510 note 1 The ‘Rochdale pioneers’ were a group of Lancashire working men who founded the English co-operative movement in 1844.

Page 510 note 2 E.g. The Co-operative Movement in India by E. M. Hough, revised by K. Madhava Das (London, 1966).

Page 511 note 1 Campbell, W. H. K., Co-operative Possibilities in the Sudan (Khartoum, 1947).Google Scholar

Page 512 note 1 A large leather-bound register is kept of all the co-operatives, and for each entry there is a space to record details of failure; but this is always left blank. Also symbolic of the general attitude is a large wall-map of the Sudan with multi-coloured pins showing the distribution of the different categories of co-operative societies; but no pins appear to be removed for failures.

Page 514 note 1 We attended an annual general meeting where the chairman, the local sheikh, announced that the surplus would be spent on an office for himself. This decision was received in silence, and without any further discussion the whole committee was re-elected. On being asked if policy was ever discussed, or if rival candidates offered themselves for election, the sheikh replied, ‘No, I am the master here.’

Page 514 note 2 The statute establishing the Agricultural Bank of the Sudan states that ‘priority should be given to co-operatives of small producers’. However, during the first six years of the Bank's existence, only I per cent of the loans went to co-operatives, most of which were in the rainiand areas. Since the 1964 Revolution, policy has been modified, and credit is now given to approved co-operatives, provided that the crops are marketed through the Bank's agency.

Page 515 note 1 This abuse led to a riot in the area; see Al-Ayan (Khartoum), 12 01 1966.Google Scholar

Page 517 note 1 As in many other parts of Africa, government officials are housed in special cantonments, the type of dwelling being determined by rarik. In the Sudan, up to a few years ago, most wore khaki uniform with insignias of rank. Now all wear European dress, in marked contrast to the traditional attire of the rural population.