#Gezira_Scheme is one of the most important gravity irrigation schemes in Sudan. It was established in

the year 1925 under the administration of the Condominium of Sudan and was devoted to the

cultivation of long-staple cotton to supply spinning mills in the British regions of Yorkshire and

Lancashire in accordance with their needs.

#Cotton is considered the most important industrial fiber plant. Its cultivation has widely expanded in

the eighteenth century upon the invention of a machine that separates cotton from seeds. The spinning

mill emerged, then automatic weaving. Among the most notable uses of cotton - other than making

clothes - is cotton wool manufacturing, in addition to fodder and oil made from its seeds. The scientific

name for Cotton is: genus Gossypium in the mallow family Malvaceae.

#Cotton plant is native to hot tropical and subtropical regions, and it is a small shrub that requires good

irrigation and fertile soil in order to grow well and produce high quality cotton. Sudan meets these

qualifications and has a competitive advantage with the ability to produce cotton during the scarce

times of the year.

According to the length of its staple, cotton can be divided into three types: a) Short-staple cotton: its

staple length is less than an inch, and it usually has a rough texture and low elasticity. It is grown in

Sudan in the state of Kordofan and eastern states. B) Medium-staple cotton: The length of its staple is

approximately one inch, and it is grown in the northern and eastern states. C) Long-staple cotton: Its

staple is longer than one inch. This type is considered the best and highest quality cotton, and it is grown

in the state of Gezira.

#Cotton_Types_in _Sudan

Cotton in the #rainfed sector: 1/Al-Bar in the tropical Nuba Mountains. 2/Akrin in Ad-Damazin area.

Other varieties which cultivation has not been expanded: 1/Mac (8) 151, commercially known as Akrin

“83”. 2/Shambat (S), known commercially as “82” Nuba. 3/Akala 93, commercially known as “93” Sudan

Akala.

Cotton in the #irrigated sector: 1/Barakat - Bekan 90 - Akala (Barak 67b) - Enhanced Akala (Barak 2069).

The cotton flower can grow in a variety of colors, including white, pink, yellow and red, according to its

specific strain. The main strains are:- 1/Gossypium barbadense, followed by the most important long-

staple cotton strains in Georgia, Sea Islands, America and Egyptian cotton. The flower is yellow with

scarlet base. 2/Gossypium herbaceum is native to Asia, cottons of Asia Minor, the Levant, and India

come from this strain. The flowers have a reddish yellow collor. 3/Gossypium hirsutum, its native habitat

is North and Central America, and Egyptian, Peruvian and Brazilian cotton come from this strain. Its

flower is yellow with large petals. 4 /Gossypium arboreum grows in India and China, and it has a large,

reddish flower.

In the past, Sudanese long-staple cotton was among the best cotton types in the world, but the

Sudanese did not pay attention to its cultivation. As a result, Sudanese cotton lost its place in the

international stock market.