In my blog number 2, I incorporated the photo above of my enriching meeting at Delhi with H E Ambassador of Sudan (South Sudan was yet to be created) during early 2010. In that meeting I was given very useful information by Sudanese trade counsellor Mr Elsadig (He is now Ambassador of Sudan in Nairobi, Kenya) regarding historic Indo- Sudanese relationships. Mr Elsadig (1st in left- see photo above) narrated a very interesting story of Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru at the 1955 Bandung Conference, “the delegation from a still not independent Sudan did not have a flag to mark its place. Taking out his handkerchief, Jawaharlal Nehru wrote “Sudan” on it, thus reserving a place for Sudan in the international community”. Secondly, India and Sudan have maintained cordial and friendly relations. India’s National Defence Academy, Pune (and its Sudan block) is partly funded with a gift of one hundred thousand pounds from a grateful Sudanese Government in recognition of the sacrifices of Indian troops in the liberation of Sudan in the North African Campaign during World War II. In 1958, India offered a six -acre plot (for a nominal price) in the posh Chanakyapuri area of New Delhi for the Embassy and residences of Sudan.
Mr Elsadig was very excited while giving me information about Mahatma Gandhi’s stopover in Port Sudan (on his way to England by boat- 1935) and his welcomed by the Indian community there. In 1938, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and his daughter also stopped over in Port Sudan on their way to Britain and were hosted to a function at the home of Chhotalal Samji Virani. The Graduates General Congress of Sudan formed in 1938 drew heavily from the experience of the Indian national Congress.
I first visited Sudan in 2010, accompanied by Director Research of Nirmal Seeds Dr J C Rajput with such positive & exciting information back up shared by Mr Elsadig. Interestingly, Sudan being member of Muslim league counties, Passport stamped with Israel visa was a big challenge for Sudan Visa issuance. Managing Director Mr R O Patil of Nirmal Seeds accompanying me during second visit, got his Sudan visa rejected as his passport was stamped by Israel Visa. We had to re issue his new passport for especially for Sudan Visa. This was the first lesson while entering Sudan in quest of seeds system business expansion in east Africa.
Sudan agriculture statistic in 2010 was very promising for business expansion especially focussed on seeds & organic inputs. So, we made strategic decision to enter Sudan and do suitability and adoptability trials of Nirmal Seeds products(Seeds and Bio inputs ).
| Agricultural land > % of land area | 56.65 % of land area |
|---|---|
| Agricultural land > sq. km | 1,346,000 sq. km |
| Agricultural machinery > tractors | 11,856 |
| Arable and permanent cropland | 16,433 thousand hectares |
| Arable land > % of land area | 7.15 % of land area |
| Arable land > hectares | 17,000,000 hectares |
| Cereal production | 156 thousand metric tons |
| Cereal yield > kg per hectare | 398.2 kg/ha |
| Cotton exports | 450 thousand bales |
| Cotton production | 500 |
| Fertilizer use | 2.3 kg |
| Pesticide use | 0 kg |
| Sorghum | 8261290 hectares |
| Millets | 3393145 hectares |
| Wheat | 274193 hectares |
| Seasum | 668145 hectares |
| Sugarcane | 70000 hectares |
| Products | cotton, groundnuts (peanuts), sorghum, millet, wheat, gum Arabic, sugarcane, cassava, mangos, papaya, bananas, sweet potatoes, sesame; sheep, livestock. |
MoU Signing with Co Aldnaga- Sudan
After the preliminary surveys and personalise support system given by Trade Canceller Mr Elsadig (1st left in photo) Nirmal Seeds signed an MoU with Aldnaga local reputed trade partner from Sudan!!!